Radebe suffers new injury

Radebe has been a magnificent servant for Leeds

Injury-plagued Leeds club captain Lucas Radebe is expected to be out for at least another three months after damaging ankle ligaments in a reserve match.

The South African international was stretchered off during a 2-0 defeat against Sunderland reserves at Elland Road on Wednesday night.

The central defender has been out of first-team action since tearing a medial knee ligament at Sunderland on 31 March and undergoing surgery.

This is a major setback - and I'm very disappointed

Lucas Radbe

He fell awkwardly following an aerial challenge with Sunderland defender Ross Marchant after 70 minutes and was taken to hospital.

It was initially feared Radebe had broken his leg.

But the injury has now been diagnosed as serious ankle ligament damage, which is likely to keep him out for several weeks.

The 31-year old was playing his second reserve game in a week after recovering from two serious knee operations.

He told the club's official website: "The only bright spot is that I've had no problems with my knees in the two games I've played, although this is a serious injury.

"I'm determined to come back, but I realise that I face a lot of hard work ahead of me."

Radebe had hoped to fight his way back into the Leeds first team in time to push for a place in South Africa's World Cup squad.