Leeds United have been handed a boost ahead of their crunch clash with Tottenham after it emerged Eric Dier is set to miss out at Elland Road.
The England international is due to undergo groin surgery this week according to Football London correspondent Alasdair Gold.Dier has reportedly been playing through the pain barrier but looks certain to miss the season finale, in which Leeds need to win and hope results in matches involving Everton and Leicester City go their way.
“Eric Dier has undergone groin surgery this week. Understand he’s been trying to play with the problem for months, since the World Cup, but it’s now got too bad to play through,” Gold wrote on Twitter.
“He’s expected to be fit for the start of pre-season in July.”
Leeds must exploit Dier absence
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Dier is a player who seems to divide opinion among football fans and certainly his form does seem to fluctuate.
But in a season that seriously underwhelmed for Spurs, they would have been relying on the England international to provide leadership in a game where they have to win to have any hope of playing in Europe next term.
For Leeds, there is an opportunity now to attack a Tottenham defence that has come under fire several times this season and, while Sam Allardyce teams generally have a reputation for defensive solidity, it will be on the Whites’ attacking players to exploit any vulnerability in an inconsistent Spurs defence.
It still may not be enough to avoid dropping into the second tier, of course, but Leeds are fast running out of lives and the only chance to save themselves now is by going for broke.
If they don’t then a return to the second tier after three seasons is a certainty.
In other Leeds news, Willy Gnonto could be set to depart this summer with a £13million move on the cards.
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