Leeds United confirm Georginio Rutter recovery timescale after revealing surgery plan — Leeds Live 18/3/24
Georginio Rutter is set for minor surgery on a hernia problem that has dogged him for several weeks though Leeds United are hopeful he could yet be available to face Watford
Surgery will not automatically rule Georginio Rutter out of
Leeds United’s fixtures with Watford and Hull City, the club’s medical staff
hope. The 21-year-old withdrew from France’s Under-23 squad on Monday morning
and the Whites have now confirmed Rutter is going under the knife.
The Whites have revealed a hernia problem has dogged Rutter
for several weeks and this 12 days between matches is an opportunity for a
minor procedure to repair it. They remain hopeful this does not mean Rutter
will miss many, if any, matches in the run-in.
A club statement said: “Leeds United can confirm Georginio
has been withdrawn from the France Under-21s squad and will undergo minor
surgery. The forward has been suffering with a hernia problem for a number of
weeks, which has been carefully managed, and the club will now use the
international break to address the issue fully.
“Surgery allows a return to play in approximately 10 days
and, all being well, he could be in contention for the Easter Championship
fixtures against Watford and Hull City.”
Thierry Henry had called Rutter up last week to play for
France’s U23s team, which will ultimately represent their country in their home
Olympics this summer. They are scheduled to play Ivory Coast on Friday and the
USA next week.
The French Football Federation announced Joris Chotard’s
withdrawal in the same statement. Rayan Cherki of Lyon has been brought up as a
replacement and Henry might still add a player to make up for those absentees.
Rutter had been a regular in the French junior system up
until the U17s division, but he was called up for the first time as an U21s
player in March 2022 after spending three years in the wilderness. The last
time he played for the U21s was in November of last year.
