Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa is set to take some of those playing for the under-23 side on Monday as part of his first team squad to take on Preston on Tuesday.
The Whites play host to their north west counterparts just three days after playing out a 1-1 draw at Milwall, while the reserve side are in action today (Monday).
However, despite playing just over 24 hours ahead of the senior clash, Bielsa has revealed the surprise early team news that some of those featuring for the under-23s will be playing or watching on from the substitutes’ bench at Elland Road on Tuesday.
Explaining his decision, Bielsa was quoted by journalist Phil Hay as saying: “It’s not good that a player plays 45 minutes before another game but even worse is when you need a player to play a game and he doesn’t have the fitness. It’s better to have more activity.”
Bielsa says the more prominent players in the Under-23s today will be involved tomorrow. "It's not good that a player plays 45 minutes before another game but even worse is when you need a player to play a game and he doesn't have the fitness. It's better to have more activity."
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) September 17, 2018
Opinion
Well that is a turn up for the books, and almost unheard of in Championship football. Usually, a manager would rest his players before the first team game but in this case Bielsa figures those who he wants for the senior side need to be playing under-23 football. The likes of Adam Forshaw and Jamal Blackman are included in the reserve game, and with the former coming back from injury and the latter unable to take Bailey Peacock-Farrell’s place in the starting XI, it makes sense to get them game time under their belts. Will the Elland Road faithful also see some young talents break through and into the first team? Perhaps not, especially if they play the full 90 minutes on Monday, but it just goes to show how little depth there is in the first team side that Bielsa is having to choose from under-23 players.