With Robin Koch back in training, Pascal Struijk close to fitness, Luke Ayling returning to the first team and Patrick Bamford making the bench against Brentford on Sunday, there was a small period of time when Marcelo Bielsa had practically a full squad to choose from. But that would come to an end after just 15 minutes of the came as Liam Cooper hobbled from the pitch. The situation would get worse just before the hour mark as Kalvin Phillips, usually one to brush off knocks with ease, also departed the field. The initial news on the injuries wasn’t good and it just seems to have got worse as the week has gone on with Leeds now having 6 players on the treatment table.
At the back, Liam Cooper picked up a hamstring strain, an injury which could keep him out for between three and nine weeks. Cooper undergone treatment and the club's medical staff will structure the next steps in his recovery. It sounds like it could be a lengthy lay off. Robin Koch has overcome his pelvic injury, but has been ill for the last 10 days and will resume training again at the weekend. With a 10 day ‘illness’ it could be Covid related, another setback in his lengthy return to fitness. Pascal Struijk is thought to have recovered enough from his hip injury to be available on Saturday.
Kalvin Phillips, like Liam Cooper, picked up a hamstring injury against Brentford. Football injury Ben Dinnery who runs the Premier Injuries website and has a background in medicine and data analysis says optimistically Phillips could be looking at six to eight weeks on the side-lines. But player fitness and Marcelo Bielsa murderball fitness are two completely different things. That said Kalvin Phillips usually recovers quickly with Marcelo Bielsa willing to put him in the side ahead of when other players would return. Bielsa also hinted that they may use this lay off to send Phillips for surgery on his shoulder after the injury he sustained against West Brom at the end of last season.
Up front Marcelo Bielsa’s options are very limited. Patrick Bamford suffered a hamstring injury during his last-minute goal celebration against Brentford at Elland Road. last Sunday. The evolution of the injury is subject to daily assessment but he could be facing a few weeks on the side-lines. Record signing Rodrigo has also been suffering from bilateral heel pain for some time. The player and medical staff have deemed it necessary to reduce his activity for the time being, in order to aid his long-term recovery.
With Leeds heading to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea this weekend, Marcelo Bielsa will have to shuffle his deck again. Pascal Struijk could be fit enough to start alongside Diego Llorente, he could call upon the services of youngster Charlie Cresswell or Luke Ayling could step inside again as he did last weekend. With Kalvin Phillips out, Adam Forshaw could fill in at defensive midfield with the ever versatile Stuart Dallas stepping back into midfield. Tyler Roberts will be filled with confidence following his goal and is likely to start up top, but could there be more game time for Joe Gelhardt?
Leeds United’s lean squad has always been a concern but with two (potentially three) players facing long layoffs, do Leeds need to consider bringing in reinforcements next month or are our talented youngsters good enough to step up during this difficult time?
