Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch has confirmed that Luis Sinisterra will not face Cardiff City in the FA Cup. But the winger is finally nearing a return from injury after 11 weeks out.
The Whites head to south Wales on Sunday to meet the Bluebirds in the third round of the FA Cup. Marsch is yet to manage a tie in the competition after Leeds lost 2-0 at West Ham United under Marcelo Bielsa last season. The American arrived at Elland Road in February.
It has proven to be a fraught exercise for Leeds to progress past the third round of the FA Cup in recent years. They last made the fourth round in 2016/17 and have not made a final since 1972/73. Leeds also last won the FA Cup in 1971/72 for the team’s only title to date.
Sinisterra’s return from injury could have been a big boost for Leeds’ hopes of advancing in the FA Cup at Cardiff. But the 23-year-old has only been training individually at Thorp Arch. Marsch is, instead, hopeful his £21m summer signing can resume team training next week.
“He was on the pitch individually today looking really strong, sprinting, running and looking close,” Marsch said, via Leeds Live. “We’re hopeful that at some point next week he’s back in training, so that’s really positive. [But] he won’t be ready this weekend.”
What is a Lisfranc injury? Leeds star Sinisterra suffered a serious blow
Sinisterra suffered a serious blow when the Leeds star sustained a Lisfranc injury at home to Fulham in October. The seven-cap Colombian was only enjoying his 10th appearance for the Whites since joining from Feyenoord. It was also only his ninth Premier League fixture.
The forward had offered two goals during his earlier top-flight outings after scoring against Everton and Brentford. He also hit home once and created another in the Carabao Cup. Yet Leeds then lost 1-0 at Wolves in the third round without Sinisterra after his Lisfranc injury.
But what is a Lisfranc injury? Well, according to Ortho Info, it is a midfoot injury where the bones in the middle of the foot are broken. It could also result from a tear in the ligaments that support the midfoot. But its severity varies based on how many joints were damaged.
If it is only a simple injury to the Lisfranc joint, it can be mistaken as a sprain. But it takes a long time to heal and, as seen with Sinisterra, could also result in months of rehabilitation.
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