Bielsa delivers Leeds fitness update
Marcelo Bielsa delivered a big team update from his pre-match press conference ahead of the Leeds United game with Fulham on Friday night.
As expected, Patrick Bamford should be fit to face Fulham but Liam Cooper is still missing through illness.
The bad news from the update, though, is that Rodrigo is a doubt after picking up a fresh muscular problem.
Athletic journalist Phil Hay relayed the news from Thorp Arch on Wednesday lunchtime.
Bamford limped out of the game against Chelsea at the weekend but should shrug off his injury to lead the line at Craven Cottage on Friday night.
Cooper was left out of the Scotland squad through illness and will not play for Leeds.
Huge boost for Leeds
This is great news for Leeds and Bamford will be looking to get back among the goals after a run of three games without scoring.
Leeds haven’t scored in three games, either, and that’s the first time that’s happened this season.
It won’t be an easy game.
Fulham are in a rare run of form and battling hard to get out of the bottom three.
They’ve also got the tightest defence of any side in the bottom half of the Premier League and have conceded 10 less than Leeds.
They conceded three against Man City last time out but only let in two goals in the seven games before that, with wins to nil against Liverpool and Everton.
A win for Fulham would leave them just seven points behind Leeds, which will get the nervier parts of the fanbase looking over their shoulders.
A win for Leeds would pretty much guarantee Premier League safety and would be the club’s first win in London since 2017.
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