Marcelo Bielsa explains absences of Hernandez & Casilla in Leeds loss v West Ham
Leeds United welcomed back a number of crucial players to their squad for their 2-0 defeat against West Ham on Monday evening.
Kalvin Phillips and Rodrigo came into the squad and both featured at the London Stadium, but other senior options missed out.
Pablo Hernandez and Kiko Casilla were both missing from the trip to London, with no explanation in the build-up to the clash.
Marcelo Bielsa has explained those after the 2-0 defeat, with Hernandez picking up another injury problem during training.
BBC journalist Adam Pope relayed the news on his personal Twitter account, and it wasn’t good news for the Spanish duo.
“Hernandez (muscle) & Struijk (knock) were injured,” he wrote.
“Bielsa says the decision to put Caprile on the bench was not because of injury to Casilla.”
These are two players that are cruising towards the exit this summer.
Both will leave with different status’ though, Hernandez a hero and Casilla disgraced, although both jumping ship wouldn’t be the worst of things.
Hernandez was linked with a move back to Castellon during the January window, and this injury is the latest in a series of setbacks this season.
The 35-year-old has started only twice during this campaign, and come off the bench 11 times – signs that he is no longer needed by Bielsa at Elland Road.
As for Casilla, we have a string of youthful keepers coming through, and Illan Meslier will be in-between the sticks for many years to come; the sooner he leaves, the better.
In other Leeds United news, Chris Sutton slams Patrick Bamford in 2-0 defeat v West Ham