Marcelo Bielsa has confirmed that Leeds midfielder Pablo Hernandez is a doubt for the Championship game against Preston on Tuesday night.
The influential midfielder was spotted in a protective boot after the 1-0 defeat to Birmingham on Saturday and, despite a report saying Leeds were confident he would recover, Bielsa has said he won’t risk him if there’s a chance it will make his injury worse.
Bielsa was talking in the pre-match press conference on Monday ahead of the game on against Preston on Tuesday night (live on the LUFC app, Monday, 12.30pm).
“He received a kick in the last minute of the game,” Bielsa said, “and we will not take any risks if playing will make his injury worse.”
Bielsa said that if Hernandez didn’t make it, Kemar Roofe would play instead of him.
Roofe, Leeds’ top scorer, made his return against Birmingham after seven games out, but couldn’t find the net after coming on with 20 minutes left.
OPINION
So Leeds fans’ worst fears, while not exactly being confirmed, are made much more likely after Bielsa’s words this lunchtime. His problem is obviously worse than when the club reportedly said it was “confident” that he would make the team on Tuesday. Bielsa also admitted that Roofe is lacing match sharpness, something that he can only get through playing. If he’s the replacement for Hernandez, the worry is that he won’t be at 100% either. Injuries are nothing new for Leeds fans this season – their side has been hit the worst out of any team in the Championship. In fact manager Bielsa still hasn’t been able to call on a full first-team squad at any point this season. However, this one will hurt if Hernandez does end up missing out. Bielsa will need a reaction from the rest of his players who will need to step up to recreate the magic that Hernandez has supplied this season. Preston will be no pushovers on Tuesday either. They’re still in with an outside shot of making the top-six but need a win after losing 1-0 to Sheffield United on Saturday.