MOT Leeds News speaking to Paul Robinson

Sun 26 September 2021 16:10, UK

We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United.

Paul Robinson feels Leeds United may want to look into re-signing Gaetano Berardi if their defensive injury crisis doesn’t allay any time soon.

Berardi, 33, is still a free agent after being released by Leeds at the end of last season.

The one-time Switzerland international, who was a full-back by trade before Marcelo Bielsa regularly played him at centre-back, played just two times in the Premier League last season with Leeds after recovering from a serious knee injury.

Leeds have regularly had concerns over the fitness of Robin Koch and Diego Llorente since their arrivals at Elland Road last year while Pascal Struijk has been out suspended for the last three games.

Liam Cooper has also had fitness issues in the past so Robinson feels that if the injury issues continue to be an issue at the back, re-signing Berardi could be something that the Whites look into.

Speaking to MOT Leeds News, Robinson said: “Depending on his condition, depending on how fit he is and where he is and what he’s been doing for the last couple of months, he could be an option.

“He’s somebody who knows the club, knows the players and knows the manager.

“It’d be a difficult one and a bit of humble pie to be asking, ‘can you come back and help us out?’. But as a person and a player, he probably would answer the call.

“It’s an option but it just depends on how serious and how long the injuries are going to be.”

Berardi played 157 times in all competitions for Leeds and was a key player in our promotion-winning season when he regularly stepped into the defence to cover injuries.

The Athletic journalist Phil Hay has recently said it’s unlikely that Berardi will head back to Leeds because his family want to live in continental Europe.

In other Leeds United news, Watford are signing this player after he quit Elland Road.