Leeds United forward Rodrigo will miss both of the club’s upcoming Premier League matches against Manchester United due to injury.
The 31-year-old faces two months on the sidelines following an ankle injury sustained in The Whites FA Cup fourth-round tie at Accrington Stanley.
The 27-time Spain international, who has scored 12 goals across all competitions this season, suffered bone and ligament damage as a result of a challenge and has undergone minor surgery.
With the former Valencia marksman, who was signed for £26m, out of the back-to-back games against Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils, Jesse Marsch will be without his top scorer.
Rodrigo will miss back-to-back matches against Manchester United
With Leeds’s number 19 unavailable to face the twenty-time league champions, the Elland Road side’s next joint top scorers are wingers Crysencio Summerville and Luis Sinisterra who have four goals apiece across all competitions.
Rodrigo, who has scored as many Premier League goals as Marcus Rashford this season (10), netted in the last Roses clash.
Under the stewardship of interim boss Ralf Rangnick, the Red Devils beat Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds 4-2 in their own backyard in February 2022.
Goals from Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes sent United into a two-goal in West Yorkshire before Rodrigo and Raphinha scored twice in the space of the minute to restore parity for the hosts.
However, after Fred restored United’s lead, Anthony Elanga scored a late fourth to ensure United left Elland Road with the bragging rights.
While Leeds will be without their top scorer, Ten Hag will be without first choice midfield partnership Christian Eriksen and Casemiro.
Eriksen has been ruled out for up to three months with an ankle injury and Casemiro will miss both games against Leeds as part of his three-game ban following his red card against Crystal Palace.
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