A few Leeds United fans have loved Marcelo Bielsa’s update on Tyler Roberts and Jamie Shackleton, after the boss confirmed that the midfielders are back in contention to play ahead of facing Preston North End on Boxing Day.
Both have been on the sidelines through injury since we faced Reading at the Madejski Stadium in late November, where Roberts sustained a muscle issue after 35 minutes and Shackleton picked up a muscular problem as he made his comeback from a hamstring injury.
Shackleton was only on the field for one minute at Reading having missed our previous seven league games as a result of his hamstring gripe, which occurred in the last of six starts for the 20-year-old across all competitions this season.
A seventh inclusion in one of Bielsa’s opening line-ups will not be on the cards when we face Preston on Thursday evening, though, as the boss has confirmed that Ezgjan Alioski will be stepping in to cover for the injured Pablo Hernandez.
“One month. It was an injury in his hamstring,” Bielsa said of Hernandez’s injury at his pre-game press conference, via quotes by the Yorkshire Evening Post.
“Tyler Roberts and Shackleton are available, [Barry] Douglas is sick and [Adam] Forshaw, we don’t know when he will come back.
Should Roberts and Shackleton feature on the bench vs Preston?
Yes
Only Roberts
Shackleton
No
“I am going to play Alioski and [Stuart] Dallas in the midfield [against Preston].
“When they [Shackleton and Roberts] are not playing, they are perfect, but they need time to be competing [before they can play].”
Fans have loved Bielsa’s update that Roberts and Shackleton are available, despite the boss adding that neither will start on Boxing Day, given they have both suffered injury-riddled campaigns so far.
Along with Shackleton’s hamstring and muscular issues, Roberts missed the start of the season through a knock to his ankle that required surgery and was only making his fourth start in all competitions when forced off early on at Reading.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to Bielsa’s pre-game team news update…
Shame with Pablo. However we get to see ROBERTS AND SHACKLETON IN ACTION for the first time in light years #LUFC https://t.co/vzUBeEgikY
— David Ward 🐐 (@ForshawFlair) December 23, 2019
Shack and tyler 😍
— Maisie Waddington 💛💙 (@MaisieWaddy) December 23, 2019
Having Tyler Roberts back for Leeds is a boost in my eyes, very good player on his day and with Hernandez out injured now is the time for him to take his chance #lufc #mot
— Ryan (@LeedsUtdRyan) December 23, 2019
TYRO!!
— James💙💛 (@J_4710) December 23, 2019
ROBERTS 🥰🥰🥰
— Luke (@LukeFazz24_) December 23, 2019
Roberts would be useful from the bench
— White Knight LUFC (@WhiteKnightLUFC) December 24, 2019
In other Leeds United news, the club are claimed to have moved on from plans to sign a £3.6m-rated striker in January.