Better News On Midfield Duo - leedsunited.com 19/11/04

Leeds United Football Club - Better News On Midfield Duo Better News On Midfield Duo United's injury problems look set to ease with the news that midfield duo Seth Johnson and Eirik Bakke are well on course to return to action early in the new year. The latest update on the pair is welcome news to boss Kevin Blackwell as he waits to hear if defender Stephen Crainey requires an operation that will effectively end his season. Former England under-21 international Johnson ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in April and also suffered cartilige damage which was set to put him out for the calendar year, and that prediction by United's medical staff appears to be spot on. Norwegian Bakke had only just returned from a bout of tendonitis when he too suffered cruciate ligament damage during United's pre-season tour of Sweden. It was at first feared Bakke would miss the entire season, but as United head physio Dave Hancock explained, both players are making great progress towards playing first team football again in the very near future. "We're very pleased with both of them," he said. "Seth looks good, he's been out jogging and despite picking up an infection in his knee (following an operation) he's bang on target. "Eirik's doing even better, he's absolutely flying at the moment. He's already been doing lots of running and is quickly building up his fitness. "They should be back in full training again after Christmas and then hopefully they will be available for selectionn again at the back end of January." Blackwell has revealed he is looking forward to the day when he can put both players in his team for the first time. "For me it would be a massive lift for the club to get two players of that calibre back," he said. "If I could have them now with Sean Gregan and Jermaine Wright it would make it the best midfield in the division. The frustrating thing is we can't do that at this moment, but we're close." Meanwhile, former United defender Jonathan Woodgate's injury problems have forced him to seek specialist help in America. Woodgate, who began his career United's successful Academy and was a fans favourite before being sold to Newcastle in January 2003, is suffering from a troublesome thigh injury that has prevented him from making his debut for new club Real Madrid. The news comes as Real's doctor, Alfonso del Corral, claims he warned Real that signing Woodgate was a major risk from a medical point of view. “We told the club that the player was arriving with a risk in the front of his thigh muscle," he said. "I give the technical information and transmit the real physical state of the player because that is my professional obligation. I cannot say no to the club signing a player and I would never send a report saying `this lad won't play again'.”

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