Bielsa confirms Leeds team news for clash v Reading with one proviso
Marcelo Bielsa is expected to pick the same Leeds United team that faced Bristol City for the game against Reading on Saturday.
However, he acknowledged that he might be forced into one change if Kiko Casilla is banned after his FA hearing this week.
The hearing is in the second day and the outcome is expected to be delivered later on Thursday.
Bielsa said that if Leeds could not select Casilla, then Meslier would be the player to step up and that he was sure that he was at the required level.
Aside from that, when asked if the team would be the same, he simply replied, “Yes”.
Bielsa was talking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Championship game against Reading (live in the LUFC app, Thursday, 12.30pm).
The good news is that means there are no new injury issues.
The update means that new signing Ian Poveda is likely to miss out again from the squad, although that wasn’t explicitly stated by Bielsa.
Poveda hasn’t made the last three squads, with Tyler Roberts and Jean-Kevin Augustin comprising the two attackers on the bench.
Bielsa only picks players on merit and as part of a system.
He obviously doesn’t believe that Poveda is ready to play yet, or better than any of his other options.
However, it is odd that Poveda has slipped from view without any explanation, especially as he was left out of the squad even when Tyler Roberts wasn’t selected.
It also means that Jean-Kevin Augustin will have to look to make an impact off the bench again, after three cameo appearances without a goal.
In other Leeds United news, ‘Bye bye takeover’ – These Leeds fans react to update on QSI chairman from Guardian journalist