Phil Hay notices one Leeds senior player is abroad while in lockdown
Leeds United winger Helder Costa does not appear to be in the country, according to The Athletic journalist Phil Hay.
Costa, 26, is one of a number of foreign players in Marcelo Bielsa’s squad but based on what Hay has noticed on Instagram, the on-loan Wolves man is the only senior Leeds player who is spending lockdown abroad.
Costa has played in all of Leeds’ 37 Championship matches so far this season and even though he is often criticised by fans for his underwhelming performances, he remains a favourite of Marcelo Bielsa’s.
It is unclear where the winger is if he is not in the UK but he is most likely going to be in Portugal.
Writing on The Athletic website, Hay said: “Most of them are [still in England] but it looks from Instagram as if Helder Costa is abroad. They are officially on holiday and there are no formal travel restrictions in place but Leeds are obviously concerned about the risk of infection if the players don’t continue to isolate as much as possible.”
Some clubs have allowed foreign players to return to their home nations while football is on hold in the United Kingdom.
It is risky because what if the season kicks off again while players like Costa are stuck overseas and unable to get a flight back?
But, there is no doubt that he would rather be with his family than stuck alone in England, like Jean-Kevin Augustin.
Patrick Bamford has recently said he thinks Augustin might be living alone in a hotel while the nation is in lockdown.
Even though there is a risky element to it, we wouldn’t want to see players struggle in this time and letting Costa go back home is the best way to go.
In other Leeds United news, a billionaire-owned club has it’s eyes on Kalvin Phillips.