Phil Hay claims Leeds player who hasn’t started since Feb is ‘shoe-in’ for XI v Blackburn
Two dropped points and two potential injuries – that was the damage for Leeds United from last night at Elland Road.
It was a very frustrating night with two huge misses adding to the pain of the fans.
The news from Marcelo Bielsa after the game was that Liam Cooper should be okay after taking a kick to the back.
However, the prognosis on Stuart Dallas isn’t as good and the star utility man is likely to miss the game on Saturday with a muscle problem.
Bielsa has options in the left-back position, with Gjanni Alioksi and Barry Douglas both fit and able to play there.
Talking on a fan Q&A on The Athletic after the game on Tuesday night, Phil Hay claimed Alioski is “a shoe-in” for Saturday.
“Alioski looks like a shoe-in for me on the strength of the past two games,” Hay said. “With Hernandez, I’d play him any time he was available. He’ll have to change it at left-back because it doesn’t sound like Dallas will be ready.”
Alisoki has looked so bright in the last two games.
He scored a brilliant goal against Fulham, slotting home a really composed finish while all around him the Fulham players lost their heads (and feet).
Pretty much everything that was good in the second half against Luton came through Alioski, who always looks to get forward.
Stuart Dallas was the highest-rated player for Leeds on WhoScored with a 7.67 rating. Alioski was the second best, right behind him with a 7.54 rating.
Alioski was given another 7+ rating for the game against Fulham.
He’s been unlucky not to start more games this season. His last start came back in February in the 2-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest after also starting in the 1-0 loss to Wigan.
He played both of those games at left-back and the only worry around Alioski is with his defending.
Barry Douglas is more of a natural left-back for Bielsa but he hasn’t been used much at all and Alioski would seem to be ahead of him.
We’d be happy for Gjanni to get the nod on Saturday. He’ll certainly cause Blackburn issues down the left. The hope will be he doesn’t leave too much space in behind him.
In other Leeds United news, Bamford & Costa both blame Elland Road issue for incredible misses Bielsa calls ‘strange’