Leeds star Roofe has suffered a knee injury and is expected to miss almost two months of action.
Eddie Gray has told LUTV that the loss of Leeds United attacker Kemar Roofe is a blow, as the attacker boasts something that the Whites lack – and promotion rivals Norwich City have in abundance.
Roofe, 26, is the club’s top scorer this season with 14 goals in the Championship. He has recently dropped deeper into attacking midfield, with Patrick Bamford now fit to start after a long-term knee injury.
But former Oxford United and West Bromwich Albion star Roofe now has an injury of his own, and confirmed earlier this week that he would be sidelined between six and eight weeks – meaning he will return in April.
Leeds United legend and former manager Gray described the loss of Roofe as a big blow, claiming that his pace will be missed as Marcelo Bielsa’s side do not boast a huge degree of speed – unlike rivals Norwich.
“It’s a blow for a number of reasons, goalscoring obviously,” Gray said. “He’s lead the line well, but he’s got that little bit of pace. It is something we have not got in an abundance.
“Real pace. I’m talking about, like Norwich pace. So that is a blow, but it is something we can get over. We do have players in there that can still create.”
Bielsa has already stated in his pre-Bolton press conference that Tyler Roberts will replace Roofe in the starting eleven, which is the only change to the 2-1 win over Swansea City last time out.
Leeds have a difficult week ahead of them, facing three fixtures in the space of six days. Leeds play host to Bolton before travelling to the capital to take on QPR at Loftus Road. Then it is back home for a crucial clash against West Brom.
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