David Woods

Wed 21 October 2020 12:42, UK

Marcelo Bielsa has delivered a big team update ahead of the Friday night clash between Leeds United and Aston Villa and confirmed Pascal Struijk would play in place of Kalvin Phillips.

Leeds have been rocked with injuries ahead of the game, the worst being Phillips after the midfield talisman was ruled out for up to six weeks. However, Bielsa said this info was “incorrect”.

Phillips posted an update on Instagram on Wednesday saying that “luckily” he didn’t require surgery, after an incident which saw Wolves striker Raul Jimenez shove him over at Elland Road on Monday.

Bielsa said, “I didn’t have the definitive amount of time that Phillips was going to be out for. I understand that the information is incorrect. It’s not defined how long he will be out for. It could be more or it could be less. The one who will play in his place will be Pascal.”

Bielsa was talking in his pre-match press conference, as quoted by Leeds Live, ahead of the Villa game on Friday.

It’s been a rollercoaster ride for Leeds on the pitch so far in the Premier League, with neutrals loving the way Bielsa takes the game to his opponents.

We could do with a bit more drama off the pitch, though, and Leeds have really been hit with injuries in the international break and then the Phillips blow.

The problem for Leeds is that midfield and defence are the two areas where Bielsa has the least depth open to him.

Adam Forshaw is still on the road to recovery and he would be a huge asset for Leeds at the moment.

Not signing Michael Cuisance is also a factor, after the midfielder joined Marseille on loan when his Leeds move collapsed.

He played 74 minutes on his debut last weekend and currently looks fit and ready to play. How Leeds could do with him now.

Pascal Struijk will play on Friday but the news that Phillips could be out for less or longer than six weeks is actually quite worrying.

In other Leeds United news, ‘Leeds are a myth’ – Sky Sports pundit blasts Whites after 1-0 defeat v Wolves