ANTON STACH has been dealt a potentially huge blow to his World Cup hopes after being forced off in Leeds’ clash with Brighton.
The German midfielder was seen leaving the field in agony with his foot covered in blood in the Whites’ final home game of the season.
Having made an impressive case to be part of Julian Nagelsmann‘s squad this summer, Stach will now be sweating over his prospects as he waits to hear what the damage is.
The 27-year-old was applauded off the pitch by the Elland Road faithful as he was replaced by Joel Piroe.
Including his 74 minutes against the Seagulls, Stach played 29 Premier League games this season.
He scored five goals and added three assists, but now looks unlikely to add to that tally.
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Stach joined Leeds last summer from Bundesliga club Hoffenheim in a deal reportedly worth £17million.
He has earned three international caps overall, and had earned a spot back in the team under Nagelsmann in the spring international break.
That had followed an absence of almost four years from his last appearance, a 5-2 win over Italy in June 2022 during the Nations League.
Leeds had desperately held on to a clean sheet with Stach’s efforts in midfield.
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And Daniel Farke’s side managed to snatch a last-gasp victory with their first shot on target all game as Dominic Calvert-Lewin struck in injury time after a brainless rush off the line by Bart Verbruggen.
The win moved Leeds up to 13th, while Brighton’s European chase took a huge dent and remained in seventh after Brentford also failed to win.
