By Craig Scott

29th Oct, 2021 | 3:30pm

Luke Ayling also ruled out of Leeds United clash v Norwich, no return date

Luke Ayling has joined Patrick Bamford in being ruled out of playing for Leeds United in their clash at Norwich on Sunday.

Marcelo Bielsa, speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, had already confirmed that Patrick Bamford will not be fit for the trip to Carrow Road.

Speaking later in the media briefing, Bielsa added that Ayling and Robin Koch are also unavailable.

Alarmingly, Bielsa admitted that he doesn’t know when they’ll be back.

“There is no precise return date for the injuries of Ayling, Bamford and Koch,” said Bielsa, as quoted by LeedsLive.

Drameh to start?

With Ayling out and Phil Hay reporting that Jamie Shackleton only has a “chance” of returning to the side, Cody Drameh has a major opportunity to play at Norwich.

The 19-year-old right-back was easily Leeds’ best player when he made his first start for the club in the defeat to Arsenal on Tuesday.

But will he start again at Norwich?

With Bielsa confirming earlier in his press conference that Junior Firpo is likely to be available, the chances are that Firpo will move back into the left-back spot and Stuart Dallas moves over onto the right-hand side of the defence.

We’d rather see Drameh start and Dallas get pushed back into the midfield or even rested. However, this is what we think Bielsa is most likely going to do.

Bielsa’s injury news hasn’t been the most uplifting this week.

It may not be until after the next international break we see the likes of Ayling, Koch and Bamford return.

In other Leeds United news, a superstar player has urged his club’s hierarchy to sign this Elland Road ace next year.