David Woods

Fri 30 October 2020 7:10, UK

Marcelo Bielsa doesn’t throw curveballs when it comes to his starting XI at Leeds United.

Predicting the side is one of the easier jobs as a Leeds journalist but there are a couple of unknowns ahead of Monday’s game against Leicester.

Both are injury-related and one is a real conundrum.

In his pre-match press conference ahead of the game against Aston Villa, Bielsa said it would be Pascal Struijk who would play instead of Kalvin Phillips.

Phillips is probably the most important player in Bielsa’s 4-1-4-1 and this was a lot of pressure to put on the 21-year-old’s shoulders.

As it turned out, he buckled, getting booked for a foul on Jack Grealish before getting hooked after just 21 minutes after nearly getting himself sent off.

There’s a chance Struijk gets a second go against Leicester but we don’t think he will.

After he was taken off and Jamie Shackleton introduced, the game changed.

Villa still had their chances in the first half but Leeds absolutely dominated the game in the second 45.

Mateusz Klich – the most reliable starter for Bielsa – dropped back with Shackleton playing in the more advanced position.

This was no double pivot but it would definitely have given the commentators work to do.

Shackleton might not be the best player in the Leeds squad but he’s one of the most reliable. He always delivers a solid performance.

Klich is an absolute beast of a player and he’s proved his worth this season way before dominating the midfield against Villa.

We think Bielsa will start Shackleton on Monday and it would represent just his 10th league start.

If the Klich/Shackleton combo delivers again then we think the 21-year-old will be the new turn-to player if Phillips is ruled out again this season.

In other Leeds United news, ‘Said I wasn’t good enough’ – Leeds ace claims Bielsa battered him for 30 minutes after PL clash