OPINION
If there is one Leeds player who has continued to underperform this season, there is no doubt that is winger Jack Harrison.
It is hard to count on one hand the number of impressive displays from the 22-year-old this season, as his series of poor performances definitely outweigh the good – so based on that, you would think that Marcelo Bielsa would come to his senses and axe a player who is not making any sort of positive impact.
Well, you thought wrong, especially if YEP journalist Phil Hay’s update – via his personal Twitter account – from the pre-match press conference is anything to go by.
It looks like Bielsa has opted to select Harrison once again in his starting XI, with the likes of Kalvin Phillips potentially being dropped if Adam Forshaw is passed fit for the Middlesbrough clash on Saturday.
Having listened back, this – I think – is what Bielsa was saying about his team for Boro:
Definite starters: Casilla, Ayling, Jansson, Cooper, Alioski, Roofe, Harrison and Bamford.
Then, due to injury doubts: Forshaw or Phillips, Hernandez or Clarke, Klich or Shackleton.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) February 7, 2019
It is baffling why Bielsa continues to place his faith in Harrison week after week, as his performance against Norwich last weekend was as woeful as a you can get from a Championship player.
He was just ineffective and anonymous, something which he has been prone to far too often this season – and many of the fans are no doubt fuming that Harrison is line to start, particularly as three points are needed after the defeat to the Canaries.
Bielsa’s stance on Harrison is just downright bizarre and it simply cannot be allowed to continue – and when you see that the likes of Phillips have been dropped previously, his view on Harrison makes even less sense.
Harrison has the potential to be a great player, but none of that potential is currently being unleashed with the Whites, so to be honest, he is kind of riding his luck under Bielsa.