Leeds United head of medicine and performance Rob Price says he has been really impressed with Djed Spence’s attitude to getting back fit.
Price was speaking on the latest episode of the Official Leeds United Podcast where he provided a thorough update on the recovery process that lays ahead of Spence.
Spence has played just over 10 minutes of action for Leeds so far since his season-long-loan move from Tottenham Hotspur after picking up a knee injury in training during the international break.
Daniel Farke revealed after the 3-0 win over Millwall nine days ago that Spence is set for eight weeks on the sidelines after lateral ligament damage in his knee.
Having only just signed for the club, this news came as a bitter blow for Leeds as he closed in on being ready to make an impact on the side from the start.
Price provides positive Leeds Spence injury update
With Price now set to work closely with Spence during his recovery, the Leeds medic is hopeful he is among the ’90 per cent’ who return within eight weeks, and is impressed with his attitude since picking up the injury.
He said: “Djed was really unfortunate. Last week, he’s gone into a challenge in training, his foot slipped from underneath him and he’s ruptured the lateral ligament of his knee. Ninety per cent of these heal pretty well within eight weeks. We do some injections to try and promote the healing in that area and we protect it and his rehab is based on that.
“So, at the minute, he’s a week into this and we’re just progressing really, really slowly, but it’s a freak accident. It could have happened to anyone. His foot slipped and it slips as he’s in a challenge, someone falls on his leg and pushes him into a level where the ligament can’t tolerate it, so it snaps.
“But what I would say about him, as with all the players, is already his attitude to doing what’s right and to making sure he’s going to be okay has been first class. We’ll build him up over the next few weeks. We hope he lies in that 90 per cent who get there within the eight weeks.
“If he doesn’t, there’s things we can do beyond that, but there’s certainly nothing extra you’d do at this stage when he’s got a good chance of being back in with us some time in November.”
It will be important not to rush Spence back into the team but his return cannot come soon enough as he has so much he can offer to a team that is already looking good.
His dynamism down the right will provide Leeds with a quality new outlet in attack, but his pace will also make him a better defensive option than current first-choice Luke Ayling, too.
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