Marcelo Bielsa has said that he expects all his first-team players to be available for the crunch game against Swansea on Saturday.
That will be a huge boost for Leeds with doubts over Liam Cooper after he sat out last week’s Championship win against Stoke through injury.
Bielsa was talking in his pre-match press conference (live on the official LUFC app, 12.30pm) on Thursday, ahead of the top-of-the-table clash at Elland Road.
Luke Ayling and Tyler Roberts are still out with long-term injuries, although both were pictured back in training this week.
Cooper and White vital for Leeds
This is the game of the Championship so far – first against second and the best attack (Swansea) against the best defence (Leeds).
Leeds are unlikely to be feeling a hangover from the defeat to Stoke on Tuesday night in the EFL cup after a penalty shootout. If anything, the character they showed to come back from two goals down at half-time should help them.
Swansea will be on an absolute high, though, after smashing sorry Cambridge for six on Wednesday night. That makes it 11 goals from five games in the Championship and nine goals from two games in the EFL Cup – 20 goals in seven games overall and an average of over three a game. That’s a daunting stat for Marcelo Bielsa to contend with but his defence has been almost spotless this season. They’ve only conceded two in five Championship games and two in two EFL cup games.
Ben White has been the star defender for Leeds so far, with a pass success rate of 91.5% and an average of 14 recoveries, 2.75 interceptions and 2.12 clearances every 90 minutes. [WyScout]
Liam Cooper is having a super season too, though, and has just got a call-up to the Scotland squad on the back of his 19/20 campaign.
He’s got a pass success rate of 90% this season and has made 3.89 interceptions and 1.21 clearances every 90 minutes.
These two players will be absolutely vital for Leeds on Saturday in a game where three points could really cement Leeds as the team to stop in the Championship this season.