Angus Kinnear has said that after talks between Victor Orta and Marcelo Bielsa, it was quickly decided that Leeds would not bring in a goalkeeper on an emergency loan.
After both Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Jamal Blackman were injured, Kinnear said he expected to have to clear his diary in preparation for an emergency signing.
However, Bielsa has always insisted that his players have to train with his system for a long period of time before playing and that he would look to solve the problem from within.
Will Huffer made the step up for the Bristol City game and helped keep a clean sheet in a much-needed 2-0 win.
Kinnear was talking in his programme notes ahead of tonight’s game at Elland Road against Reading.
BBC journalist Adam Pope posted the notes to his Twitter page on Tuesday afternoon.
CEO Angus Kinnear’s notes confirming Marcelo Bielsa’s belief in his existing keepers rather than dipping into the loan market. Interesting insight into pre-match prep. Also, minority shareholders @49ers are here too. #lufc pic.twitter.com/cVJylLGJk3
— Adam Pope (@apopey) November 27, 2018
OPINION
This won’t come as a huge surprise to Leeds fans although they’re not going to be happy if this extends to the January window too. We think Leeds will move for a new number two in the January window though and we can understand that an emergency loan doesn’t fit in with Bielsa’s philosophy or training methods. It’s fantastic news for youngsters like Huffer who know they will continue to be used in the first-team set-up until at least January. The good news for Leeds fans is that it sounds like Peacock-Farrell is going to be fit to take his place in the side for the game against Reading tonight. No disrespect to Huffer who put in a fine performance against Bristol City, despite showing some nerves, but this is not the time to be playing completely unblooded young players in goal. The game against Reading at Elland Road is exactly the sort of game that Leeds must win if they want to take one of the two automatic promotions spots.