Phil Hay highlights what is ‘odd’ about Poveda situation with winger out of Leeds squad
Athletic journalist Phil Hay has said it’s “odd” that Poveda has been dropped from the Leeds matchday squad after it was stated that he was a signing for the first team and not for the Under-23s.
Both Poveda and Jean-Kévin Augustin joined Leeds last month to much excitement from supporters, but neither have started a match with Marcelo Bielsa choosing to keep faith with his existing players.
Poveda hasn’t even come off the bench and has been dropped from the squad for the last three games.
Speaking on his podcast, The Phil Hay Show, Hay revealed that Poveda looks to be the odd one out when Bielsa is constructing his matchday squad.
On Poveda’s lack of game time, Hay said: “Bielsa’s explanation for it was when he constructs his bench is he likes to have two defenders, two midfielders and two attackers. Essentially, Poveda was the odd one out.
“However, the assumption was when he joined that while he wouldn’t be ahead of first-team players, that when it came to the bench he would be ahead of people like Jordan Stevens. Especially as Bielsa seemed so keen on his condition when he first joined the club.”
Poveda made just one senior appearance for City before joining Leeds and at 20 years old he still has plenty of time to make an impact at the club.
With Pablo Hernandez, Helder Costa and Jack Harrison all available to Bielsa out wide, it is little surprise chances have been limited this season.
However, Hay explained that he was brought in to be a senior player and not an addition to the Under-23s.
“He is definitely one for the future because of his age,” he added.
“I don’t think there was any expectation to feature ahead of Hernandez or Costa. But the club said he was a first-team player, not a 23. With Poveda it is odd and I’m confused as to why he’s not in the picture.”
Marcelo Bielsa said his squad would be the same for the game against Reading on Saturday.
He is expected to name an unchanged line-up for the game and it means that Augustin will be on the bench again.
With Tyler Roberts available that could mean Poveda missing out on the squad of 18 again.
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