Michael Skubala was unwilling to risk those Leeds United players currently carrying minor issues against Manchester United. The Whites were without a number of key names of the clash on Sunday, with Liam Cooper, Marc Roca and Luis Sinisterra amongst those not involved.
Cooper and Roca haven’t been seen since the defeat to Nottingham Forest last weekend, missing both clashes against the Red Devils with small injuries. Sinisterra was also absent against Erik ten Hag’s side after picking up a muscle problem at Old Trafford in midweek.
However, Skubala was unable to confirm whether the above names would be involved against Everton next Saturday, a game that cannot be described as anything other than must win for the Whites. They will be checked over the coming days, as will Pascal Struijk, who suffered a concussion after being hit in the face by a Marcus Rashford piledriver, but it seems there is uncertainty.
Read more: Every word Michael Skubala said on Leeds United's defeat, next manager, Ten Hag words, injuries
“I think we’ve got to keep assessing,” Skubala said when asked about the trio after Leeds’ second game against the Red Devils in the first few days. “It was a little bit too early for them today.
“We just got to make sure that we don't do anything dangerous with the players and lose them for four or five weeks. So we've just got to make sure when they become ready that they're fully ready because we don't need any second injuries that's going to keep them out for longer with such a period of games we've got coming up.”
The loss on Sunday, which came due to late efforts from Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, meant Leeds end the just one place and one point ahead of the Toffees, with Sean Dyche's side having the opportunity to leapfrog the Whites on Monday evening, if they are able to win the Merseyside derby. As such, they need all hands on deck and whoever is in charge for that game will hope to see his squad bolstered with the returns of such influential players.
United will also be keeping a close eye on the fitness of both Adam Forshaw and Stuart Dallas in the hope they can return before too long.
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