Leeds United fans may be worried to hear that defender Pontus Jansson has withdrawn from the Sweden squad ahead of this week’s international matches.

According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, the defender needs treatment on a knee injury suffered in the defeat to Sheffield United at the weekend.

Jansson was due to head to Sweden for EURO 2020 qualifiers but instead will stay grounded at Thorp Arch in order to win his race against time to be ready to play in the final handful of Leeds' league games.

The popular centre-back appeared to land awkwardly towards the end of the game after Leeds had used all three substitutes.

Jansson was forced further up the pitch to be an extra body rather than be lame at the back before ending the game in goal after Kiko Casilla’s sending off.

The 28-year-old has been replaced in Sweden’s squad by Copenhagen’s Sotirios Papagiannopoulos.

The race is now on for Jansson to try and overcome the issue ahead of the resumption of the Championship in two weeks.

The verdict

This is a blow for Leeds – as it is for Sweden – that the defender looks set to be out.

Jansson looked uncomfortable after his knock at the weekend and the fact he has pulled out of international duty will leave fans fearing the worst on how long he will be out for.

It looked an awkward one, and it will be a battle to be fit as soon as he can to help Leeds in their quest to earn a move back to the Premier League.