Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has held his pre-game press conference ahead of the trip to The Den to face Neil Harris’ Millwall side with Championship action returning this Saturday.
There were some high points over the September international break for individual players, but equally Patrick Bamford isn’t the only injury blow we have to contend with – with Bamford out our reliance on Kemar Roofe came immediately to the fore for most fans and as Sod’s Law would have it, he’s now out of the game as well.
Peacock-Farrell,
Ayling, Cooper, Jansson, Douglas,
Phillips,
Shackleton, Saiz, Klich, Alioski,
Roberts.
With Bamford out for four months with a Posterior Cruciate Ligament injury, Bielsa confirmed to Leeds Live that Roofe had taken a kick and was ruled out, Gaetano Berardi needs longer to come back and Pablo Hernandez is also out for the next three or so weeks.
The team picks itself in response for me. Pontus in for Berardi, Tyler Roberts gets a quick chance to build on his Welsh debut in place of Roofe and I don’t think it’s a stretch to see Jamie Shackleton come in for Hernandez for the right midfield spot – either that or Jack Harrison or Stuart Dallas
Jack Clarke and maybe Ryan Edmondson may get a bench spot and a second-half shot at things. We have options though, even if it’s not ideal.
There are also the loanees to think about.
It depends on how youthful Bielsa wants to pivot.