By Craig Scott

30th Sep, 2021 | 6:10pm

Charlie Cresswell could be dropped from Leeds United XI v Watford

Charlie Cresswell could be dropped by Marcelo Bielsa as Leeds United play Watford at Elland Road on Saturday, according to Ben Dinnery.

Writing via his personal Twitter account on Thursday, the verified injury expert reported that despite being handed his Premier League debut last week, 19-year-old Cresswell may be left out of the starting line-up this weekend based on what Bielsa said in his pre-match press conference.

Dinnery quotes Bielsa as saying: “The young players, those not usually in the XI, should play when they are prepared and when it’s necessary. In that process, they make themselves important or not.”

Harsh?

Cresswell played well against West Ham so it may be seen as harsh for Bielsa to axe the Preston-born centre-back.

However, with Pascal Struijk back from suspension and Diego Llorente likely available again, it doesn’t make sense to stick with Cresswell any longer.

We’d love to see more of the England youth international but right now, we’re without a win or a clean sheet in the Premier League this season and need to win against a Watford side that are definitely beatable.

Cresswell’s a fine young player but Struijk has proven himself in the Premier League over the last year and there’s no need to big up Llorente, who’s clearly a better option.

Either of them alongside Liam Cooper should be who Bielsa goes with on Saturday – although there may even be some fans making a case for Cooper to miss out too.

But as he’s the club captain and the only senior centre-back who’s been fully fit and available this season so far, it has to be him partnered by one of Struijk or Llorente.

In other Leeds United news, a BT pundit says this player will return to the Leeds starting line-up on Saturday.