MOT View: Defender who has never played in PL will help save Leeds millions in Jan window

Leeds United were hit with a massive double injury blow this week as both Robin Koch and Diego Llorente were ruled out of action.

Llorente is only out for two-to-three weeks but Koch is out until next Spring after undergoing knee surgery.

That led to the inevitable question of whether Leeds would be bringing in another centre-back in the January window.

Marcelo Bielsa's answer in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday was pretty definitive.

He said, "We are not looking to bring in another centre-back in the transfer market."

He said that Pascal Struijk, Luke Ayling and Kalvin Phillips would be able to provide cover, before revealing that Gaetano Berardi would be back from injury in February.

Berardi was injured at the tail-end of last season after extending his contract to take in the late finish to the season.

The ACL injury scuppered any move on a free that he might have been planning but he was rewarded with a year's contract at Leeds for his loyalty – a move that was applauded by Leeds fans who loved seeing the club do the right thing.

However, his injury also led many fans to fear that he would be ruled out for the whole season.

Now it looks like he might get to make his Premier League bow after all.

A February return is ahead of what we were expecting and it looks like Berardi could help repay his new contract by saving Leeds millions in the transfer market.

Some Leeds fans might not be happy that the club isn't going to replace Robin Koch in January but it's just not how Bielsa likes to do things.

But what all Leeds fans will be salivating over is the thought of Berardi and his unique passion hitting Premier League opponents for six.

After what he's been through we're thrilled that it looks like he's finally going to get to make his Premier League debut.

In other Leeds United news, Gary Lineker reacts on Twitter to big Leeds United reveal