The injury to Stuart Dallas means Leeds United needs to sign a winger in the next three days

Oh look, another injury.

Stuart Dallas will reportedly miss at least another six weeks after his latest comeback from injury was pushed back a significant amount of time. Dallas has already been out for almost two months, as he’s missed everything since the match against Sheffield United on 1st December 2018.

Per the club’s official website:

Leeds United winger Stuart Dallas has suffered an ankle injury in training.

Dallas, who recently recovered from a foot injury, has been ruled out for up to six weeks.

We wish Stuart a speedy recovery.

Dallas is normally a winger, but he’s been brought in to play a number of different roles this year, including both fullback positions. Last year saw him play for weeks at fullback as cover for injuries to Luke Ayling and Vurnon Anita and the ineffectiveness of Laurens De Bock.

The emergence of Jack Clarke has relieved some pressure on Leeds to find a winger, but the club still need someone else besides Gjanni Alioski, Manchester City loanee Jack Harrison, and Pablo Hernandez at winger. Alioski has also been cover at left fullback and Hernandez has been used in the central attacking role instead since the departure of Samu Saiz. It doesn’t look like the team will need another fullback, with Tom Pearce returning to fitness along with Gaetano Berardi, and Jamie Shackleton has been a bright spot coming in on the right.

The club has already been in the market for a new winger. Daniel James of Swansea City has been mentioned many times, but Leeds and Swansea need to find common ground for that deal to be made. There has supposedly been a £10 million bid from Leeds, with £6 million guaranteed with another potential £4 million in bonuses, although it’s also reported that Swansea is looking for £12 million for James.

Callum O’Dowda from Bristol City has been mentioned as another option, but Leeds are reportedly more interested in James. Ivan Cavaleiro from Wolverhampton has also been linked with a potential loan move to Leeds, although it sounds like that deal is likely not going to happen with Wolves not interested in loaning Cavaleiro.

If the deal for Daniel James doesn’t wind up going through, then Leeds absolutely need to get another player in, and time is running out with the window closing on Thursday. This squad has been thin all season, and it’s hard to say that it hasn’t been successful. After all, Leeds are top of the league. However, there are still 17 matches left in the season, and to get the necessary points for promotion, Leeds will need all of their players fit and ready to go, and if there aren’t, Leeds are in for trouble.

Pablo Hernandez missed about a month earlier in the season, and that time saw Leeds drop points at an alarming rate. It doesn’t sound like the club is going to be going after a number 10/ enganche replacement for Saiz, but the club will still need someone to help create goals. A quality winger who can create, such as James, is absolutely necessary if Leeds are to make a serious push for promotion down the stretch.