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Wolves 0 Leeds 0: Radebe career under threat
Patrick Maxwell at Molineux
LUCAS RADEBE was in hospital last night, his Achilles tendon thought to be ruptured and his playing career considered over. Radebe was injured after 15 minutes, falling to the turf with no other player in the immediate vicinity. After receiving treatment, the former Leeds captain was taken off on a stretcher. His distress was obvious.
Kevin Blackwell, the Leeds manager, said: “It looks like Lucas has ruptured his Achilles and it’s more than likely going to be his last game for Leeds as this is his final season with us anyway. He went to move forward to play the ball and it felt like he was kicked. But it was actually the snap of his Achilles, and that’s why we fear the worst.”
If 35-year-old Radebe is forced to retire, it will be a sad end to an illustrious career.
He has been with Leeds for just three weeks short of 10 years, during which time the South African has experienced the slings and arrows of outrageous footballing fortune at Elland Road. Radebe celebrated the European conquest of the David O’Leary era and suffered the pain of relegation last season.
The dark news about Radebe cast a huge shadow over the Leeds camp after a gritty performance secured a draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Kenny Miller had the opportunity to win the game for the home side when they were awarded a penalty four minutes from time, but the Leeds goalkeeper, Neil Sullivan, made a fine save.
Miller had earned the spot-kick, having been upended by Michael Duberry. The defender was sent off for the professional foul but Sullivan denied Wolves what would have been their first victory in the Championship.
Wolves are without eight senior players, four of whom are strikers.
Their long injury list has forced Dave Jones, their manager, to introduce 19-year-old forward Leon Clarke to the first team. Wolves appear to have unearthed a gem of a footballer.
Clarke was betrayed by his finishing yesterday — four chances came and went without the youngster opening the scoring — but he showed immense promise and caused Duberry and Paul Butler, Leeds’ experienced centre-backs, a multitude of problems.
Despite Blackwell’s claims to the contrary, Leeds were unimpressive. They looked vulnerable whenever Wolves attacked, while the supply line to their two strikers, Brian Deane and Michael Ricketts, was virtually non-existent.
One does, however, have sympathy for the Leeds manager, who had nine players signed since the end of last season in the starting line-up at Molineux and was then forced to replace Radebe with Simon Walton, a 16-year-old midfielder.
Wolves: Jones, Edwards, Clyde, Craddock, Naylor (Andrews 80min), Ince, Olofinjana, Cameron (Cooper 89min), Newton, Clarke, Miller
Leeds: Sullivan, Kelly, Duberry, Butler, Crainey, Richardson (Guppy 89min), Wright, Radebe (Walton 18min), Pugh, Deane, Ricketts (Joachim 68min)
Referee: G Laws
Attendance: 28,397
Wolves 0 Leeds 0: Radebe career under threat
Patrick Maxwell at Molineux
LUCAS RADEBE was in hospital last night, his Achilles tendon thought to be ruptured and his playing career considered over. Radebe was injured after 15 minutes, falling to the turf with no other player in the immediate vicinity. After receiving treatment, the former Leeds captain was taken off on a stretcher. His distress was obvious.
Kevin Blackwell, the Leeds manager, said: “It looks like Lucas has ruptured his Achilles and it’s more than likely going to be his last game for Leeds as this is his final season with us anyway. He went to move forward to play the ball and it felt like he was kicked. But it was actually the snap of his Achilles, and that’s why we fear the worst.”
If 35-year-old Radebe is forced to retire, it will be a sad end to an illustrious career.
He has been with Leeds for just three weeks short of 10 years, during which time the South African has experienced the slings and arrows of outrageous footballing fortune at Elland Road. Radebe celebrated the European conquest of the David O’Leary era and suffered the pain of relegation last season.
The dark news about Radebe cast a huge shadow over the Leeds camp after a gritty performance secured a draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Kenny Miller had the opportunity to win the game for the home side when they were awarded a penalty four minutes from time, but the Leeds goalkeeper, Neil Sullivan, made a fine save.
Miller had earned the spot-kick, having been upended by Michael Duberry. The defender was sent off for the professional foul but Sullivan denied Wolves what would have been their first victory in the Championship.
Wolves are without eight senior players, four of whom are strikers.
Their long injury list has forced Dave Jones, their manager, to introduce 19-year-old forward Leon Clarke to the first team. Wolves appear to have unearthed a gem of a footballer.
Clarke was betrayed by his finishing yesterday — four chances came and went without the youngster opening the scoring — but he showed immense promise and caused Duberry and Paul Butler, Leeds’ experienced centre-backs, a multitude of problems.
Despite Blackwell’s claims to the contrary, Leeds were unimpressive. They looked vulnerable whenever Wolves attacked, while the supply line to their two strikers, Brian Deane and Michael Ricketts, was virtually non-existent.
One does, however, have sympathy for the Leeds manager, who had nine players signed since the end of last season in the starting line-up at Molineux and was then forced to replace Radebe with Simon Walton, a 16-year-old midfielder.
Wolves: Jones, Edwards, Clyde, Craddock, Naylor (Andrews 80min), Ince, Olofinjana, Cameron (Cooper 89min), Newton, Clarke, Miller
Leeds: Sullivan, Kelly, Duberry, Butler, Crainey, Richardson (Guppy 89min), Wright, Radebe (Walton 18min), Pugh, Deane, Ricketts (Joachim 68min)
Referee: G Laws
Attendance: 28,397
