Pundit Michael Brown believes that Pablo Hernandez could make a return to the Leeds United squad as they prepare to take on Fulham, but stresses that they need to take precautions on his fitness.
The North Yorkshire outfit fell to a 2-0 defeat to Cardiff City on Sunday in what was a huge blow to Marcelo Bielsa’s side, as they slipped off the top of the Championship table to West Bromwich Albion on goal difference.
Hernandez is highly regarded by the Argentinian tactician and previously described him as a “very intelligent” player with the pair possessing a strong and healthy working relationship with each other.
The Athletic’s Phil Hay previously revealed that Hernandez missed the Bluebirds clash due to a niggle, with the severity of it not believed to be serious.
Speaking to Football Insider, Brown says that it is a fine line whether he will be fit but is a crucial player if they are to get anything out of the Fulham game.
If fit, should Pablo Hernandez start vs Fulham?
Yes
No
He said: “With a player like him, you’ve got to say you want him on the pitch, you want him in that XI but only the in-house people will know how many minutes, can he be included straight away?
“It’s risk v reward with regards to pushing somebody for one game. I know it’s against a Fulham side who are very, very close, against Brentford suffered a poor result so they’ll be looking to get a result.
Brown added that he doesn’t expect too many changes to the squad despite Sunday’s defeat and that the Whites simply have to be prepared.
He’s right, but it will be a race to get him up to match fitness. There is always the danger that aggravating the knock could lead to something more serious, which Bielsa will be aware of.
If he is fit, Hernandez must start. However, Leeds must proceed with caution on this one.