Times journalist makes Augustin training claim after visit to Thorp Arch

New Leeds United striker Jean-Kevin Augustin took part in Marcelo Bielsa's infamous 'Murderball' session on Wednesday. 

That was the claim from Matt Dickinson in The Times after he attended a Leeds press conference at Thorp Arch for the first time on Thursday.

Dickinson picked the right one to go to, with Bielsa on rare form, talking for almost an hour on Augustin and other topics that were irking him.

Dickinson's final question was about the pressure that Bielsa was obviously facing. Bielsa refuted this, although the fiery press conference seemed to belie that.

Murderball she wrote

There are two ways we can take the 'Murderball' news.

As the name suggests, it's a brutal training routine that's like football but harder. It involves 11 v 11 with one ball and a host of staff and ball boys ready to ensure that there are literally no breaks in the action.

On the one hand, it's a good sign that Augustin is fit enough to have taken part in 'Murderball'.

However, it appears that he didn't pass muster, with Bielsa saying he was performing at around 50% in his press conference. Bielsa wants him nearer 70% to play him.

The trouble for Leeds is that there are two huge games coming up, against Nottingham Forest on Saturday and Brentford on Tuesday.

Augustin is surely either fit for both or neither. If Bielsa doesn't pick him on the bench for the Forest game, there's little chance he could prove his fitness between then and Tuesday.

Is there a slim chance of Augustin making the bench for both? Yes, but it's a long shot and we just can't see it happening after Bielsa's comments.

He's not the one for obfuscation or mind games.

In other Leeds United news, 'Have the three points Leeds', 'Horrible news' – These Nottingham Forest fans fume at Fri update