Leeds midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi looks set to miss a large part of the 2018-2019 season through a serious looking knee injury. 

The Japan international is yet to make an appearance for the Championship club since joining in January 2018.

He signed from Japanese side Gamba Osaka, but was immediately loaned out to Spanish side Cultural Leonesa. He then returned to Leeds during the summer, but was loaned out to Bundesliga 2 side Greuther Furth.

Ideguchi has scored once in three appearances for the German side but ruptured his knee ligaments during a 1-0 win over Dynamo Dresden, that saw Greuther Furth rise to 3rd in the Bundesliga 2 table.

The club announced the injury on their social media page shortly after the win.

Speaking to the club's official website Greuther Furth's manager Damir Buric was supportive of the recovery of the 22-year-old's injury.

"We all feel for Yosuke and we’re very sad that he will be out because of this serious injury. We’ll support him as much as possible from the club's side and wish him all the best a good recovery.”

Ideguchi's injury is the same injury that has ruled Leeds striker Patrick Bamford out until the new year so Bielsa will be hopeful of a swift return to action for both of his players.

The verdict:

The injury to Ideguchi will be a real 'kick in the teeth' scenario for the player and he will be extremely frustrated with the spell on the sidelines that he faces.

So with him out of action for the next coming months, his long term future at Leeds United has to come into question, and with the limited game time he has had since signing for the Championship club, it is extremely unlikely that Ideguchi will feature in Marco Bielsa's plans for the future.

If Leeds keep up their good run, and win promotion to the Premier League, I can see it being almost certain that Ideguchi will be one of the fringe players that are sold in order to rebuild for life in the Premier League.