Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has confirmed that Joe Rodon faces up to 10 weeks out with a hamstring injury. The Wales centre-back left the field before half-time in the 1-1 draw with Brentford at Elland Road at the weekend.
Rodon, 28, looked in considerable discomfort as he walked around the pitch after being substituted. He was consoled by his manager as he walked past him on his way down towards the tunnel.
Farke confirms assessment
Post-match, Farke stated it looked a "very painful" one for the Swansea graduate. Now, ahead of Leeds' match against Brighton this weekend, the German confirmed the defender will miss a chunk of the early season.
"Bad news with [Rodon], serious hamstring injury," he said. "He will be out for, at the moment the assessment is eight to 10 weeks. So he will definitely not play before the next international break. Also probably not the first games after the international break.
"It is a big blow for us because he is a key player for us. But it is football and sometimes you have to deal with injuries. He will definitely miss the next eight to 10 weeks probably."
Wales Nations League blow
That news is also a huge blow for Craig Bellamy, with Wales facing two Nations League matches at the end of this month and two at the beginning of October. Rodon will be unavailable for matches against Portugal, Denmark and Norway.
Wales head to Portugal in matchday one of the Nations League on September 24 before travelling to Denmark three days later. They then host Norway on October 1 and the Danes on October 4.
To compound matters, Bellamy is also without Cardiff City's Dylan Lawlor, who is still nursing an ankle injury. His club manager Brian Barry-Murphy confirmed the Bluebirds youngster won't be available for national team selection.
"Dylan injured his knee in the game against Ghana so he's not close to returning yet," said Barry-Murphy, following Cardiff's 2-2 draw with Sheffield United last month.
Further defensive issues
At present there appears to be no timescale set on the 20-year-old's return, either. "He's starting to make good progress now and he's back doing some jogging, but he's nowhere close to returning for us yet so it's impossible to say when [he'll be back]," added Barry-Murphy.
Fellow centre-back Ben Cabango has also suffered an injury-hit start to the Championship campaign, but Ben Davies should be available again after returning to fitness for club side Tottenham.
