Leeds winger Luis Sinisterra is set to be ruled out until the end of the World Cup winter break with a rare foot injury.
The 23-year-old Colombia international, who signed from Feyenoord in the summer for a fee of £21million, damaged ligaments in the recent home defeat to Fulham.
He missed last Saturday’s Premier League win at Liverpool and will be absent from Saturday’s home game against Bournemouth.
Leeds head coach Jesse Marsch said: “Luis Sinisterra has a foot injury which turns out to be more than we originally thought.
“He wasn’t making the progress we had hoped he could in the last 10 days so they did another scan and they got him a specialist and they started to worry that it was a Lisfranc injury.
“It’s a rare injury. It (the Lisfranc ligament) controls the movement of the metatarsals and when this is broken, recovery can be long.
“We don’t think he’s broken, we think he’s partially torn which puts him in a bit of a gray area, but probably out until the World Cup break.”
Sinisterra have been a big hit since joining Elland Road, scoring three goals to help soften the disappointment of former fan favorite Raphinha’s summer departure to Barcelona.
Leeds’ shock victory at Anfield last Saturday ended an eight-game league winless streak and eased the pressure on Marsch slightly.
Part of the white fans had demanded the former Salzburg and Leipzig boss be sacked after his side slipped into the bottom three.
They are now 15th, one point from the relegation zone, but Marsch knows victory against Bournemouth is crucial if his side are to maintain their progress.
“Obviously it was a good win, but it’s a bit frustrating that we could play like this in some games and let two points slip away in others,” he added.
“We should be higher in the table, further along in our process, but we are not.
“There is joy that we are getting such a result, but also worry and frustration that we haven’t done more at other times.
“This week there has been a real focus on what is needed this weekend and our focus is entirely on building momentum.
“To do that we need to get a result and a win against Bournemouth.”
Marsch is now injury-free, while teenage midfielder Archie Gray (toe) has returned to training. Stuart Dallas (fractured femur) and Adam Forshaw (ankle) are still absent.
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