The Leeds United full-back has battled with niggling injuries in recent times.
Nouha Dicko of Wolverhampton Wanderers (C) in action with Gaetano Berardi (L) and Liam Cooper of Leeds United
Leeds United certainly had an opening weekend of the season to forget. They were trounced by QPR at Loftus Road but also saw one of their players limp out of proceedings early.
Swiss defender Gaetano Berardi was taken off just 22 minutes into the game with yet another injury problem.
The 28-year-old’s Elland Road career has been blighted by niggling injury trouble and he would have been hoping to have putting such woes behind him.
Jeremy Helan of Sheffield Wednesday in action with Gaetano Berardi of Leeds United
However, he has not played since and is not expected to be fit for this weekend’s West Yorkshire derby with Huddersfield Town or the clash with Blackburn Rovers in midweek.
But Berardi, speaking at the opening of the new Leeds United club shop, told BBC Radio Leeds yesterday that he is closing in on a return to fitness.
He stated:
“Now I am good because the last two weeks were very bad for me.
“Now I am good and I think next week or the next ten days I will be ready.
“It was very difficult (to deal with) because last 10 months for injuries was very bad for me.
“But the players help me, the physio staff help me every day and now I can say that I am ready to start again.”
Burnley’s Andre Gray and Leeds United’s Gaetano Berardi in action
The Swiss international has been one of the few successful signings from controversial owner Massimo Cellino’s Italian homeland. He has proved a tough and committed competitor since arriving from Sampdoria in 2014.
Upon his return to fitness the full-back, who can play on both the right and left of defence, will be battling with new signing Luke Ayling for his starting spot.
But if there is one thing Leeds fans know about Berardi, it is that he is always up for a challenge.
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