Marcelo Bielsa has handed gifted Leeds United youngster Tyler Roberts a major hurdle in the Welshman’s quest for a key first-team role at Elland Road.
According to Football Insider, the boss is adamant that the 21-year-old will not be staking his claim to a starting role in West Yorkshire all the while promotion into the Premier League is on the line.
Victory over Huddersfield Town on Saturday whilst West Bromwich Albion could only draw with Swansea City saw United move atop the Championship standings by a point, while pulling seven points clear of the Play-Off places after Fulham drew with Bristol City.
Bielsa is a ‘huge admirer’ of Roberts’ potential and fully believes that the seven-time international can offer something in a number of roles, whether that be in attack or midfield, but will not risk top-flight football by favouring him over Patrick Bamford.
Roberts may find himself more often fielded in a supportive role to Bamford when he is awarded minutes, too, with it suggested that Bielsa is leaning toward developing the West Brom product more so as an outright number ten.
Should Roberts be starting our league games?
Yes
No
Roberts has accumulated 14 appearances this season across all competitions, but has only started four of his outings and none since our trip to Reading in November where he was forced off through injury after 35 minutes.
Bielsa had favoured Roberts as one of his attacking midfielders against Reading and in our three prior league games, which saw the Welshman open his account with our first goal in a 2-0 win over Queens Park Rangers.
Roberts did not score again until the 4-0 mauling of Hull City earlier this month when he came off the bench at the KCOM Stadium, showing the damage he can deal as a substitute and the damage that Bielsa is seemingly looking to tap into.