Leeds United will be without Tyler Roberts for the remainder of the season following surgery to repair a ruptured hamstring tendon.
The Wales international sustained the injury after appearing as a second-half substitute during Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Leicester at the King Power Stadium.
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Leeds said in a statement: “Leeds United can confirm Tyler Roberts has successfully undergone surgery on a ruptured hamstring tendon sustained in last Saturday’s Premier League game at Leicester City.
“Roberts will spend the next three months on the sidelines. Everyone at Leeds United wishes Tyler a speedy recovery.”
The 23-year-old stepped off the bench as a 76th-minute replacement for Jack Harrison and was forced off for treatment minutes later after stretching for a bouncing ball on the edge of Leicester’s penalty area.
He limped back into the action after treatment as Leeds had already used all three substitutes, but was clearly in some discomfort and saw out the rest of the game as a bystander.
Roberts was making his 23rd league appearance of the season in new head coach Jesse Marsch’s first game in charge, with 16 of those as a substitute.
The Whites have been dogged by injuries for most of their second campaign back in the top flight and have been without Kalvin Phillips, Patrick Bamford and skipper Liam Cooper since early December.
Elsewhere, Leeds boss Marsch is anticipating a return for Patrick Bamford in Thursday’s match against Aston Villa.
It has been an injury-plagued campaign for Bamford, who has made just six Premier League appearances this season, the last of them on December 5, as ankle and hip issues were followed by a problem at the bottom of his foot.
Marsch, whose side lie just two points above the relegation zone, expects Bamford to get some game time, when Leeds look to boost their bid for top-flight survival against Villa.
“I don’t think Patrick’s ready to be on from the start,” the American said. “Let’s see how the week goes but certainly I think he’ll be ready to put in some minutes come Thursday.
“Patrick is back in training, he will continue to progress more and more, we’ll get him fitter and fitter and sharper and sharper and then we will be able to rely on him in these 11 games.”