Leeds United coach Jesse Marsch has urged referees to better protect his players after the injury Crysencio Summerville sustained at Cardiff City. He also feels clubs target his winger.
The Whites expect Summerville to now miss the next month after suffering an ankle injury in the FA Cup. Marsch had to replace the 21-year-old in the 59th minute as the two teams drew 2-2 last Sunday. It was the Dutchman’s 16th outing of the season in all competitions.
Summerville has secured a prominent place in Marsch’s plans this term with four goals and an assist. The forward has recorded all of his goal involvements through 12 Premier League games. Yet the Rotterdam native has only started in five of Leeds’ 17 top-flight encounters.
Marsch urges referees to protect his Leeds players after Summerville’s injury
Marsch will now be without Summerville due to his injury when Leeds travel to Aston Villa in the Premier League. The Whites face Unai Emery’s Villans in Birmingham on Friday night looking to end a four-match winless run. They are without a win in six in all competitions.
But the injury Summerville sustained at Cardiff has frustrated Marsch as he claims referees are not protecting his Leeds players as much as they can or should. The Whites boss adds that he feels teams now target the Dutchman and Wilfried Gnonto to restrict their impact.
“Summerville is out for a month, probably,” he said, via quotes by Leeds Live. “The ankle injury and tackle he sustained in the Cardiff match is a little bit of a talking point for me.
“I think, between Cree and Willy specifically, that opponents have tried to bully them, that they have a hard time containing them specifically when they’re on the move or dribble and frankly, I don’t think that the referees have protected those two players well enough.
“So, they’re susceptible to injury and to hard tackles, and I would like to see the referees protect attacking players more. So, we’re a little disappointed that Cree will be out. He’s hopeful that it will be quicker than a month but that’s what the prognosis is right now.”
What games will Summerville miss following his injury sustained at Cardiff?
A one-month lay-off due to the injury Summerville sustained at Cardiff will see Marsch be without the U21 Dutch international for potentially Leeds’ next five games. He will have to sit out Friday’s trip to Aston Villa plus the replay of the Whites and Bluebirds’ FA Cup clash.
Cardiff travel to Elland Road next Wednesday to decide which team advances to the fourth round of the FA Cup. Leeds then host Brentford on January 22, visit Nottingham Forest on February 5 and host Manchester United on the 12th in their next Premier League matches.
Summerville, then, may return from his injury to Marsch’s line-up when Leeds visit Everton on February 18. His next available match at Elland Road is likely to be against Southampton on February 25. The Whites then begin March in London with a trip to Chelsea on the 4th.
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