Leeds United have, on Sunday afternoon, been dealt a concerning blow on the personnel front early in the club’s meeting with Manchester United.
The player to have been forced to make way for Marcelo Bielsa’s troops? Robin Koch.
German international Koch had a tough time of things across the opening half hour at Elland Road, with a heavy challenge on the part of Scott McTominay having left the Leeds midfielder grounded, and in need of bandaging on his head.
Robin Koch is bandaged up after a clash with Scott McTominay. ? pic.twitter.com/V0L9gkRs5p
— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) February 20, 2022
Koch, to his credit, did eventually manage to return to the field of play, on the back of a lengthy bout of treatment.
A short time later, however, it became abundantly clear that the 25-year-old was in fact in no fit state to continue, forcing Marcelo Bielsa into an early change, as Junior Firpo was introduced in Koch’s place:
A blow for #LUFC.
Robin Koch can’t continue after his earlier collision with Scott McTominay.
Junior Firpo takes his place.#LEEMUN #BBCFootball
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 20, 2022
Maguire on target
The woes of Sunday’s hosts, meanwhile, have since only continued to deepen.
This comes with Leeds’ early personnel blow having since been followed by Manchester United taking the lead in west Yorkshire.
The afternoon’s opener came courtesy of a corner kick with 34 minutes on the clock, as a sustained spell of pressure ultimately culminated in Luke Shaw’s devilish delivery from the right being nodded home in emphatic fashion by Red Devils captain Harry Maguire:
Harry Maguire breaks the deadlock! ⚽
The Manchester United captain gets on the end of Luke Shaw’s corner to nod the away side into the lead! pic.twitter.com/4fxDOJ6MqY
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 20, 2022
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