Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa held his pre-match press conference on Monday ahead of tonight’s Championship clash with Preston North End and the subject of Chelsea loanee Izzy Brown featured in the questioning.
The 21-year-old is out with a knee injury at this moment in time and he’s been sidelined since last January, and with plenty of doubts over his fitness – in terms of when he will exactly be able to take to the pitch for us – Bielsa conceded he was still some way off a return.
Bielsa on Izzy Brown: "It's a very different case. It's been a long time since he played, he hasn't played football with us so far. It's impossible to say when he will be fit. It won't be a short time." #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) September 17, 2018
As a follow on from this a number of Leeds fan posed the question as to why we had done a deal on a player that would spend such a chunk of his loan spell still on the sidelines, and plenty felt it was just a precursor to striking a permanent deal in January or over the summer as to some degree he’d have been in and around the group and adjusting to the club.
This to me screams we’ve got a very good chance of signing him in Summer if he impresses us when he’s fit. Recon that’s why he’s here even though he’s injured.
— Matt J.D (@MattJLufc) September 17, 2018
Reading between the lines, it's to get ahead of the other teams, he will be in high demand when he's fit in January, and phil said we don't pay him any wages until he's fit.
— Simon Hall (@hallsi1987) September 17, 2018
To get ahead of everyone else as he will be sought after in January/the summer
— ZL (@SupremeJansson) September 17, 2018
With a deliberately thin squad its better to sign players up to speed & ready to play.
— WotzThatSound (@WotzThatSound) September 17, 2018
Great player when fit. Suppose he need to adapt to the Bielsa football too. Took everyone else about 6 weeks
— Adam Haywood (@DonVito_84) September 17, 2018
If those thoughts are right, it does make sense from that point of view and it’s a small element of faith that could well help us secure a deal down the line.