Macedonian Football has reported that Ezgjan Alioski has picked up a hamstring injury and will therefore miss their next game with Armenia.
For Leeds United, this is a blow for obvious reasons as they look to bounce back from their loss to Crystal Palace after the break and head into a congested period of matches.
Marcelo Bielsa has used Alioski often during his tenure, thanks to the player’s versatility, and losing him at this point in the campaign, when other injuries are bound to crop up, is not what you’d call good timing…
Rush Football’s take
Using Whoscored we can see how Leeds will miss having Alioski available through his sheer versatility on the pitch.
He’s actually only started three Premier League games for the club so far this season but has played regularly on the international stage and has three sub appearances in the top flight too.
In that time, he’s played at left-back, left-wing-back, central-midfield and right-wing and it’s this ability to come in and fill the gaps where needed that Leeds will likely miss most with his injury.
Bielsa has several players that can play in more than one role – Stuart Dallas immediately springs to mind – and, because of that, he has a fairly small squad – something he likes.
As soon as these Swiss Army Knife players start getting knocks, though – especially ones as usually fit as Alioski – that ability to plug players into areas is lost and, therefore, it’s going to be hoped that he’s not out for long.
Indeed, it’s only a slight hamstring problem but it’s a muscle that cannot be rushed and time will tell what will happen with him.
