Kalvin Phillips is set to be used as an emergency centre-back by Leeds United against Rotherham at the weekend, according to Phil Hay.
Marcelo Bielsa will be unable to call upon the suspended Pontus Jansson while Gaetano Berardi broke down while making his comeback bid at the start of the week and is set to miss out.
Speaking on the latest edition of the Inside Elland Road podcast (18:45), Hay explained that Phillips is set to partner skipper Liam Cooper in central defence for Saturday’s short trip across Yorkshire.
“Given that Berardi limped out of the Under-23s on Monday night and is having scans on his hamstring, he will surely not be fit for Rotherham. It’s surely going to have to be Kalvin Phillips once again back there.
“There’s Aapo Halme, but the evidence of the past few weeks has been there Bielsa would prefer to play Phillips there than Halme.”
OPINION
It has been an absolute catalogue of unavailabilities at the back for Leeds this season and the team has done remarkably well to cope in the face of constant flux at the back. Bielsa has fielded 13 different back fours in the club’s 27 league matches this season and virtual all of the alterations have been as a result of injury or suspension to key personnel. Jansson will be sorely missed as he serves a one-man suspension, and the absence of Leeds’ outstanding defender could hurt them. The timing appeared ideal for Switzerland international Berardi to make his return. Phillips did as well as anyone could have expected while filling in for Cooper recently in central defence, and his range of passing certainly raises the quality of the team’s distribution from the back. But Phillips can have the most beneficial effect on this Leeds side by playing 30 yards higher up the pitch in the midfield anchorman role. The 23-year-old’s versatility is nevertheless a great boost to the team as they look to get back to winning ways.