Bielsa delivers Leeds fitness update on Casilla and Phillips for clash v Boro

Marcelo Bielsa is ‘optimistic’ that both Kalvin Phillips and Kiko Casilla can play for Leeds United in the Championship game against Middlesbrough on Wednesday night.

Leeds travel to the Riverside on a roll after winning the last two games and if both players make it, it will be a massive boost.

Phillips picked up an injury towards the end of the first half of the game against Reading on Saturday. He tried to play on but hobbled off before half time.

He said afterwards it was a dead calf, an injury that normally takes around 48 hours of rest.

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Casilla picked up a hand injury in the first half of the 1-0 win against Reading on Saturday.

That didn’t stop him taking the gloves for the second half, although 19-year-old Meslier was seen warming up at half time.

Talking in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday (live in the LUFC app, 12.30pm), Bielsa said that both were doubts but he was “hopeful” that both players would make it.

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Leeds go into the game at the Riverside in much ruder health than they were a couple of weeks ago.

Two consecutive wins has seen them open up a buffer between themselves and Fulham in third.

Leeds have five points on Fulham, and six on Brentford, Forest and Brentford.

Two more wins against Middlesbrough and Hull at the weekend would put Leeds in a really strong position to finish in the top two.

In other Leeds United news, ‘May hate Leeds but’, ‘Absolute quality’ – Some rival fans react to Sky tweet on Bielsa mainstay