Good Morning. It's Friday 24th March, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Rodrigo injury concerns not serious
Reports that Rodrigo could be set for another spell on the sidelines may have been exaggerated. The 32yo was limping badly towards the end of the Wolves match, raising concerns whether he'll be fit enough to start against Arsenal on April 1st. According to Phil Hay at the time...
Rodrigo looks like he’s done something to his left ankle. Limping heavily, seemed to go down as a high ball came to him.
It is no coincidence that Rodrigo's return to action has coincided with their massive win last weekend. Thankfully, the injury is not thought to be serious. He certainly showed no signs of suffering, when netting his 11th (league) goal of the season, deep into injury time.
Do Leeds need a striker in the Summer
For the last couple of seasons, Leeds have struggled in front of goal. Their goal tally of 62 during their return to the top flight seems a distant dream, and although Rodrigo continuous to keep their dreams of survival alive, injuries both to himself, and his strike partner have been well documented.
Age is against our striking duo; their battle scars evident for all to see, so what happens the next time they're both out at the same time? It doesn't look like Gelhardt is the answer, and whilst Perkins and Joseph continue to impress for the U21's, is the gulf too far?
Has Rodrigo earned a new contract
Despite only playing just over half of Leeds Utd's fixtures this season (56%), Rodrigo has defied the odds by outscoring Summerville, Harrison, Bamford and Gnonto combined. The 32yo is enjoying a new lease of life at Elland Road, raising questions regarding a possible contract extension.
His four year deal runs until the Summer of 2024, by which time he'll be 33, but injuries aside, has showed no signs of slowing down. 13 goals (all competitions) in 24 games for a team at the wrong end of the table is remarkable. Goal scorers in the top flight are a rare commodity, and can make the difference between survival and relegation. Bearing this in mind, would a two year extension be out of the question?
