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Bielsa confirms injury problems

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Marcelo Bielsa has confirmed that three key Leeds first-team players have injury problems heading into the international break.

Kalvin Phillips is one and he was struggling during the 1-0 defeat against Swansea last Saturday.

Bielsa is hoping all three recover before the game against Barnsley a week on Sunday.

“It is going to be a long period for us,” said Bielsa in the Yorkshire Evening Post.

“We have a lot of players who are not going to be involved in this period.

“We’re going to try to recover some of the players with some problems; Dallas, Phillips, Forshaw.

“At the same time we are going to try and improve the organisation of the players that usually are playing less.”

Fortuitous international break

Football fans don’t much like international breaks but this one might have come at just the right time for Leeds.

All three players – Phillips, Dallas and Forshaw – have been vital for Bielsa so far this season.

Phillips is the engine that Bielsa builds his team around. Forshaw has been brilliant this season in midfield and Dallas has looked a man transformed after stepping in for the injured Luke Ayling at right-back.

Phillips is the player that Bielsa will be desperate to have back for the Barnsley game.

According to WhoScored he hasn’t dipped below a 7.0 rating for Leeds in the Championship this season and was their highest-rated player in the 1-0 win against Brentford with a 7.75.

18/19 injury nightmare

Fans will remember how the 18/19 campaign suffered from injuries and there will always be a ‘what might have been’ if key players had stayed fit.

According to LUFCDATA, Leeds really suffered in attack in a season when not converting chances cost them promotion.

Kemar Roofe only played 58.1% of games in the league, Tyler Roberts played 43.2% and Patrick Bamford played just 33.6%.

Leeds fans will be desperate for more luck this season.

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