Jonathan Douglas is likely to be out until at least the new year, and his spell on the sidelines could turn out to be more than just a couple of weeks.

The Republic of Ireland international was stretchered off in obvious pain at the end of Saturday’s match at Walsall, and an MRI scan has confirmed that he twisted his knee and sustained damage to the joint. He has injured the knee before and the club’s medical staff need to find out if his latest setback is related to the earlier problem.

Dave Bassett told BBC Radio Leeds "He's got to go to see the specialist now, who will decide what the major problem is. He's not going to be available to us over Christmas but how long he will be out for, we don't know." Douglas is due to see a surgeon on Monday, who will decide whether he needs an operation, or whether a rehabilitation programme will suffice.

This does of course raise the question of who will replace Douglas in the side during the festive period. ‘Penguin’ does have his detractors among the Leeds support, who would like to see someone else get an opportunity to get a run in the side. Personally, I hope that Hughes is now restored to central midfield and that young Ben Parker gets his chance at left back. Time to give the side more balance than it’s had in recent weeks.

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