Heckingbottom says Brentford’s visit is must win for Leeds United’s top six chances.
Leeds United manager Paul Heckingbottom is waiting to see if four of his first team players will be fit to face Brentford on Saturday.
Goalkeeper Andy Lonergan, midfielder Pablo Hernandez and strikers Kemar Roofe and Pierre-Michel Lasogga have all picked up niggles in the two days following Wednesday’s 2-2 draw against Derby County.
However, Heckingbottom has told Leeds’ official Twitter feed that he is hopeful of a clean bill of health – barring long-term absentees Luke Ayling, Tyler Roberts and Connor Shaughnessy [although Jay-Roy Grot was forced off while playing for the Whites’ Under-23s against Sheffield Wednesday later on Friday].
The Leeds boss said: “Lonners has not trained, he’s got a stiff neck so we’ll assess him. But we’re hoping that everyone’s fit and available tomorrow.
“We’re just waiting to see how they are. [Hernandez] and Roofe are similar. Pierre had a stiff calf. Just a few with the short space of time between the games [and] increasing load. Obviously, Pablo’s been back in and played each of the games.
“There’s been a couple of boys [with] little bits of stiffness from the different training methods. It’s just a case of adapting.”
Discussing Roberts and Shaughnessy, who have both visited specialists this week, Heckingbottom added: “Conor doesn’t need an operation, which is great, so we’ll be treating him conservatively carrying [on] with his rehab. He’s gonna still be out for a significant length of time but it’s good news he didn’t need the operation.
“Tyler’s similar. We’re going to keep progressing him but he’s at a stage in the injury [where] he’s gonna have keep being reassessed. Hopefully we can progress him in a fashion where where there’s got to be no surgical intervention.
“If we get him through [the season] conservatively we could still get him back, hopefully. If not and he needs the operation this season will be a write off.”
Heckingbottom was denied his first win as Leeds manager by Kasey Palmer’s stoppage time strike for Derby and admitted the Brentford game is ‘must win’ if United are to make the top six this season.
The Whites are currently eight points behind sixth-placed Bristol City with 13 games remaining.
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