Pontus Jansson is not going to be fit for the Championship game against Bristol City on Saturday.
Marcelo Bielsa was talking in the pre-match press conference ahead of the crunch game against Bristol City on Saturday.
One of the most eagerly awaited updates was about defender Pontus Jansson, who withdrew from the Sweden squad this past fortnight after picking up an injury against West Brom.
He had flown out with Sweden but returned to Leeds shortly after for a scan to assess the injury.
Nothing had been said since, although the injury wasn’t though to be serious.
However, Bielsa has now said he doesn’t expect him to be fit for Saturday, which is a major blow.
Bielsa doesn't expect Pontus Jansson to be available on Saturday. "Until yesterday we thought he would be available but now the game is getting closer I don't have the same optimism. He didn't train with the group." #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) November 22, 2018
Bielsa on his options: "Phillips can play as a centre-back. Aapo Halme is another opportunity. These are the two opportunities." #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) November 22, 2018
OPINION
This isn’t good news for Leeds and Bielsa might have to revise his previous opinion that Leeds aren’t picking up too many injuries. The Leeds squad is down to the bare bones now and they’re one injury away from a full-blown crisis. Bielsa mentioned Kalvin Phillips and Aapo Halme as possibilities for the Bristol City game but both come with their own problems. Phillips has been playing brilliantly and we wouldn’t want to see him come out of the midfield shield position. Aapo Halme is completely untested. It’s telling that Bielsa didn’t mention Conor Shaughnessy, the more obvious Under-23 player to slot back into the centre-back position. He must not be fancied. Leeds really need a win against Bristol City at Elland Road on Saturday, but it seems like half the squad is out – certainly half their defenders. If Bielsa doesn’t think he needs to strengthen in the January window now, he never will.