Bielsa confirms massive fitness boost for Leeds v Leicester clash
Liam Cooper is fit to play against Leicester on Monday night in a huge boost for Leeds United.
Diego Llorente and Kalvin Phillips are still out injured.
Marcelo Bielsa confirmed the team news from his pre-match press conference from Thorp Arch on Friday afternoon, as quoted by Leeds Live.
He also said that he hadn’t picked the starting XI yet after being asked if Jamie Shackleton would start.
Leeds fans are looking forward to the full Monday Night Football treatment from Sky Sports after many boycotted the last win against Villa that was shown on PPV on BT Sport Box Office.
Leeds have depth but Cooper a huge boost
Leeds have real depth in their squad this season and even when stretched, as they were against Aston Villa, they had the players to cope.
Diego Llorente and Liam Cooper were out with injury, while Pascal Struijk, the second centre-back stand-in, was used in the defensive midfield position with Kalvin Phillips also sidelined.
Bielsa reshuffled the pack and that team was enough to spank Aston Villa 3-0 – and Dean Smith’s side had come into the game with a 100% record. They’d also beaten Liverpool 7-2 but couldn’t cope with a fantastic Leeds side absolutely fizzing with energy.
Having Cooper back is a massive boost, though, and we think he goes straight back into the side. That would see Gjanni Alioski dropping back to the bench and Luke Ayling moving back to the right.
Leeds have even more options in attack, with Raphinha and Ian Poveda both straining to be let off their leashes.
Both players scored for the Under-23s in a 2-0 win against Norwich last Sunday in a clear message to Bielsa.
If Leeds carry on playing like they have been, though, the attacking pair are going to have to wait longer for their first Premier League starts.
In other Leeds United news, Bielsa set to unleash Leeds secret weapon v Leicester for just 10th league start