Paul Robinson reacts to latest Sam Byram blow as Leeds United injury concerns rule defender out
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Sam Byram cannot rush himself back and must ensure he is 100% fit before he returns to Leeds United action, according to Paul Robinson.
The pundit reacted after the defender missed the defeat at Sunderland (12 December) with a hamstring problem that is expected to keep him out until the New Year [BBC Sport, 11 December], having previously come off against Plymouth (11 November) and missed the draw at Rotherham on the return from the international break.
Despite becoming the de factor starter at left-back he was also in and out of the starting line-up during August and September with fitness concerns and Robinson admits it is always a “struggle” when issues arrive early in the season and drag on, with Byram having been through years of injury struggle between his two spells at Leeds.
Speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News he said: “He’s just got to get himself fit and put a run of games together. It’s always difficult when you start the season, pick up an injury and then struggle.
“We’re a third of the way into the season and it hasn’t really got going for him.
“The important thing now for him is not to rush. It’s to get 100% right, get himself fit and available for selection.
“Then from his point of view hopefully put a run of games together. It’s difficult when it’s stop-start like that.”
In fairness to Byram he has played a lot more than would have been expected when he came back to the club but he has now reached around the maximum level of his involvement in any league campaign since he left Elland Road originally, and meant he signed with doubts surrounding his availability in the summer [Yorkshire Evening Post, 21 September].
The full-back went through hell at West Ham, Norwich and Nottingham Forest since he departed Yorkshire in January 2016, only making 98 appearances in total across five and a half seasons.
Daniel Farke has already confirmed he is looking to add at the left-back position in January so it might be that the 30-year-old doesn’t have as much involvement over the second half of the season.
Having returned nominally as a right-back he would likely be a more-than-capable second choice but with Junior Firpo injured even more frequently it could simply be too much to expect the ex-Norwich man to be a week-in week-out regular.
