Leeds get significant boost ahead of clash v Wigan
Leeds United have been given a significant boost with the news that Gaetano Berardi is fit and available for the Championship clash against Wigan on Saturday.
After missing the last two games with a calf injury, Marcelo Bielsa confirmed that Berardi is available in his pre-match press conference (live in the LUFC app, Thursday, 12.30pm).
That clears up a mystery after Berardi missed the 3-2 win against Millwall on Tuesday, with Bielsa not providing an update on the player after the game.
Berardi could come straight back into the side, which would enable Ben White to move up the holding midfield position, with Kalvin Phillips serving the second game of his three-match suspension.
White was supposed to play in midfield against Millwall but stayed in his more usual role, with Leeds playing a three-man midfield of Mateusz Klich, Stuart Dallas and Pablo Hernandez.
It’s also possible that Bielsa decides to stick with an unchanged line-up.
Leeds had a horrible first half against Millwall but the second 45 was among the best we’ve seen all season and Klich was at the heart of everything.
If that’s the case, Bielsa will have Berardi as an option off the bench if things don’t work out.
There was more good news from the press conference too with the news that Barry Douglas is close to resuming training. There were no other injuries to report, which means both Tyler Roberts and Jamie Shackleton should make the bench tomorrow, along with new signings Ian Poveda and Jean-Kevin Augustin.
A win would keep Leeds on top of the Championship and could see the lead back to third start to stretch again.
In other Leeds United news, Exclusive: Paul Robinson claims 22y/o set to be Leeds record signing in the summer