Whites wait for news on Derry
by Phil Hay
Leeds United midfielder Shaun Derry is set to undergo surgery this week after carrying a hernia problem through yesterday's 1-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday.
Derry has been nursing the injury since United's clash with Crystal Palace on August 13, and the Elland Road club have taken advantage of the two-week international break by sending him to a leading specialist in Germany.
The 28-year-old has looked short of his best form during the opening weeks of the Championship season, but Leeds have kept news of his problem quiet since their 1-0 defeat at Selhurst Park.
Derry is expected to go under the knife in the coming days, although boss Kevin Blackwell admitted the club could still opt to delay surgery until the second international interlude at the end of next month.
Blackwell said: "Shaun will see a top specialist in Germany and if he needs surgery now then that's the road we'll take.
"But if the surgeon decides that Shaun is able to carry the problem for another six weeks then we'll wait until the next international break before reassessing things.
Dwindled
"I'm short of numbers and I don't want to lose him but he's been struggling with this for a couple of weeks."
Midfielder Steve Stone has also travelled to Germany as United attempt to discover the full extent of his abdomen injury.
Stone is already certain to miss the next six weeks of the season, but Leeds suspect the 35-year-old may also require a hernia operation.
Blackwell's squad dwindled further today with confirmation that goalkeeper Tony Warner, who has featured in all five of Leeds' league games to date, was returning to Fulham at the end of his one-month loan deal at Elland Road.
Warner produced another excellent performance yesterday, withstanding heavy pressure in the first half to keep a clean sheet, but Blackwell will now be forced to find fresh cover for the returning Neil Sullivan.
United's boss was visibly thrilled by his side's victory at Hillsborough yesterday, but the match was overshadowed by a contentious performance from referee Steve Bennett.
The Kent official – one of the Football Association's Select Group referees – incensed Paul Sturrock by awarding a second-half penalty to United and dismissing Owls goalkeeper Brad Jones.
Sturrock said: "I'd like the Premiership to keep their own referees.
"There's been too many games I've been to watch in the last year and a half – and too many games I've been involved with – and they don't seem to be able to handle the step down.
"Obviously the pace of the game is a lot more in our league than in the Premiership, and I just feel it would be very nice if they just left us alone and let us stick to our own referees."
28 August 2006
