How Leeds United can deal with £2.5million January signing’s injury absence

How Can Leeds United Deal With Tyler Roberts’ Injury

Leeds United have been handed another injury setback as the club has confirmed that January signing Tyler Roberts is set to face an extended period out on the sidelines, due to a shin injury.  

The 19-year old had moved to the Elland Road only last month, from West Bromwich Albion for a fee understood to be in the range of £2.5million, signing a four-and-a-half-year deal with the club. However, now he is set for a lengthy spell on the treatment tables.  

Leeds have been struggling for results of late, with their last win coming back on the Boxing Day last year. And they could have used with the services of another goal-scorer in their ranks at the moment, with just Pierre-Michel Lasogga, injury-prone Caleb Ekuban and the misfiring Jay-Ray Grot as the options.  

With Roberts now ruled out, here we look at three young strikers that new manager Paul Heckingbottom can look to blood in the business end of the season for Leeds;

Oliver Sarkic

The 20-year old striker was signed on loan from Benfica in the last summer by Leeds, but his transfer was made a permanent one last month, following his impressive displays for the U23s.  

A regular for the U23 side, Sarkic has impressed heavily and has been the top-scorer for Carlos Corberan’s side this term. He has also had a decent record during his time with the youth setup at Benfica and with the Montenegro national youth teams as well.

He did seem to have picked up an injury in their previous game, with no real update on his current status. However, if fit, he could be an interesting option for the Whites.

Kun Temenuzhkov

Signed in the last summer from the famed La Masia academy of Barcelona on a free transfer, Temenuzhkov is just 18 years of age but has been tipped for great things in the future.  

Having spent three years with the Catalans, the 18-year old diminutive striker, who idolizes Luis Suarez, has displayed great predatory instincts in front of goal and is rightly regarded as the next big thing in Bulgarian football.

His 30 goals fired the Barcelona Juvenil B side to the title last season and if given the responsibility to represent the first-team at Leeds, he could prove to be the X-Factor that the Whites seem to have been lacking this term.  

Jack Clarke

One of Leeds’ most exciting young talents is 17-year old striker Jack Clarke, who signed his first professional contract with the club only in November last year.  

Having just moved to the U23 side from the U18s, Clarke has impressed in bursts for the team and his display in the 5-1 win against Nottingham Forest was something that provided a strong evidence of the amazing potential he has.

The fact that Manchester City were interested in signing him in the summer is indicative of his potential and Leeds could look to him to provide something different in their attack towards the business end of the season.