Barry Douglas will miss the Sky Bet Championship run-in, with the 29-year-old’s setback the latest obstacle thrown in the path of Leeds United and their promotion push.

Leeds moved to confirm that Douglas ruptured a medial ligament in his knee during Saturday’s 3-2 win over Millwall at Elland Road, despite the fact that the full-back carried on to complete the second-half.

He’s now facing two to three months on the sidelines with the injury, which has brought his first campaign at Leeds to a premature end.

After arriving from Wolves in the summer, Douglas has gone on to make 27 Championship appearances for Leeds, registering five assists, the last of which came in that 3-2 win over Millwall.

He’d lost his place in the starting line-up to Ezgjan Alioski in recent weeks, but his absence is still a blow for promotion-chasing Leeds.

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Here are three impacts it’ll have on the side…

Lack of depth

 

This is the obvious place to start, with Douglas’ absence depriving Bielsa of another option down the left.

The Scot was covering for Alioski in recent weeks, but without him on the bench, there’s no natural replacement at left-back.

If Bielsa wants another left-sided option to Alioski, Leif Davis is going to have to step up from the academy.

An experienced head gone

Bielsa’s squad has experienced players, but not many have been in this position in the Championship before.

Douglas has, just last year with Wolverhampton Wanderers, who romped to promotion and the Championship title.

It isn’t just Douglas’ class on the pitch Leeds will miss, it’ll be his influence on the dressing room.

Missing out on his set-piece excellence

 

Whilst Pablo Hernandez can deliver a great free-kick or corner with his right foot, Douglas could do the same with his left.

He always finds dangerous areas and a couple of his five assists have come from corners.

Even in general play, his quality of delivery can make such a difference, as was proved with his whipped cross that Luke Ayling buried against Millwall.