Leeds have confirmed that Tyler Roberts will be missing for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury. It is a huge blow for the Wales ace, but could it be he has played his last game for Leeds?
Roberts, 23, has often been the source of criticism for Leeds fans this season. The Wales international has scored just two Premier League goals in 51 appearances, failing to make an impact when given a chance to start.
The ex-West Brom man has been a regular part of the matchday squad, but that might be down to injuries suffered by Patrick Bamford and plenty of others in the final third. Roberts has clocked up 26 appearances this term.
The £10million-rated (Mail) attacker will now be sidelined until the summer, but Bamford is back and could feature against Aston Villa. Joe Gelhardt is pushing Roberts, and came on against Leicester before him.
Has Roberts played his last game for Leeds, after operation?
Graham Smyth reported this week that Roberts was left in an ‘unenviable’ position – with Bamford returning, and Gelhardt picked ahead of Roberts from the bench by Jesse Marsch. What now, now he is out for the season?
Realistically, Leeds are going to make new signings in the summer – if they avoid relegation. Marsch is renowned for preferring more options to pick from than Marcelo Bielsa – so new signings could come in at Elland Road.
A striker will be among those, as might be an attacking midfielder – Brenden Aaronson springs to mind. So, Roberts will fall even further down the pecking order. A move would be best for his career.
The injury surely means Roberts has played his last game for Leeds. But if the Whites are relegated to the Championship, it is a completely different story. Leeds will sell their best players, and Roberts climbs the rankings.
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