Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto was forced off due to injury as Italy Under-21s beat San Marino Under-21s 7-0 on Thursday 16 November.
Highlights from the game, posted to the Itallian national team’s official X platform (16 November), show the 20-year-old clutching his hamstring as he challenged for the ball.
As a result, the Leeds man was forced to leave the pitch early and was replaced by Giuseppe Ambrosino in the 73rd minute.
Prior to going off, Gnonto had scored twice and won a penalty, which he gave to Sebastiano Esposito, giving up the chance to seal his hat trick.
When a player clutches his hamstring, it is never a good sign, and Leeds supporters must now draw a collective breath as they wait to see how long Gnonto is sidelined.
However, while it is certainly not welcome news, his injury might not be too much of a worry to most supporters. Ever since an ankle injury which kept him out previously, the Italian has only featured sporadically and has largely been kept out of Daniel Farke’s side by the performances of other players.
The Whites are doing well without Gnonto who has not been a key man so far this season as many might have expected him to be, although Farke will know better than anyone that to compete over the course of a 46-game Championship season it takes more than a strong starting lineup, you need options within the squad, and Gnonto is certainly a good one.
Therefore, the German will be hoping to have the winger back sooner rather than later, even if it is just to have an option off the bench.
