Tyler Roberts has endured a miserable start to his Leeds United career, but perhaps there could still be a fairytale end to the season.
When Leeds announced that they had signed Tyler Roberts from West Brom on transfer deadline day, it was already clear that the Whites had taken a gamble, especially with Sky Sports reporting that they had spent £2.5 million on the young forward.
The seven-figure sum is one of the larger fees that Leeds have spent since their days flirting with the summit of the English and European game, and it was spent on a player who boasts just one appearance in either of the country’s top two divisions and was out of contract at The Hawthorns at the end of the season.
Those who doubted whether the Whites were making the right decision may have felt vindicated when the 19-year-old sustained an injury before he had a chance to make his debut for the club that has kept him out ever since.
Frustratingly for Leeds fans, the club have not been able to suggest how long they expect Roberts to be sidelined for, with the club only confirming that he was set to be missing for an extended period after picking up a small crack on the shin.
And while Paul Heckingbottom was still not able to provide answers when he spoke to BBC Radio Leeds ahead of Friday’s game against Middlesbrough, he did suggest that a much clearer picture is a few weeks away.
“If it keeps progressing steadily, then we’ll carry on with that. If there needs to be an intervention, then hopefully we’ll know within three or four weeks because he’ll be at a level where we can get him kicking on and progressing further, or if he’s still getting any discomfort or pain, then we’ll have to do something about it.
Heckingbottom’s comments provide the slightest hint that there may be a chance that Roberts could still have a role to play this season, and that could be a huge boost for Leeds if they keep themselves within a couple of wins of the play-off places.
The Whites are currently six points back of the top six with 12 games remaining, so there appears to be just enough time for Heckingbottom’s men to get themselves back into the picture – and that may perhaps give Roberts the platform to prove his doubters wrong and make himself an instant hero.
If the youngster’s rehabilitation goes well over the next few weeks and there is a chance that he may be able to feature before the regular season finishes, it would provide the team with the kind of boost they made need if they are going to stand any chance of getting across the line and being the team that comes from nowhere to reach the play-offs.
And if Roberts can come back and score a crucial goal or two along the way, then the last few months will largely be forgotten about and the youngster will have made himself a hero.
For the players that are currently fit, their job is to now ensure that if Roberts’ recovery goes well enough that he is back this season, he comes back into a side that still has something to fight for.
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