A lot of Leeds United fans could not believe that Ryan Edmondson was close to getting his break in the first team before he underwent surgery to fix a knee problem that will keep him out for the next eight weeks.
Influential Elland Road figure Marcelo Bielsa speaking in his press conference before the Whites’ clash with Nottingham Forest confirmed that his last training session before he had to have surgery was excellent.
However, before that session, Bielsa claims that his performances for the Under-23s would never have been enough to be considered for selection.
Bielsa then confirmed later on that he had pushed Edmondson to try harder because he did not realise the 18-year-old had a problem.
This news has not gone down well on Twitter with these Whites fans who are shocked by this revelation.
Now talking about Edmondson. Says his performances for the Under-23s "were never enough to be considered" for the first team. Then, in his last training session, he was excellent – but injured his knee and needed surgery.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) February 6, 2020
You really couldn’t make it up. pic.twitter.com/bq9DWa6OOP
— angsta (@angstas) February 6, 2020
Wow ??
— Ashli (@AshliBurchill) February 6, 2020
Convenient
— Paul Allanson (@PaulAllanson23) February 6, 2020
Funny how often plays are about to break into the first team before getting injured.
— Dan (@POTUS048) February 6, 2020
Does he just say that? , like with Blackman, or does he really mean that he would have been with the squad?
— HP_Proud to be LEEDS UNITED???? (@LUFCalwaysEA10) February 6, 2020
I’ve never heard a manager say a player can’t play because he’s worth too much for our club when he’s fully flying…..madness
— Rich (@richnutting) February 6, 2020
Rubbish.
— Richard Idle (@Yorkshirelad110) February 6, 2020
What do we think?
Some fans have wanted to see Edmondson for a long time, but this surgery means they are unlikely to see him in the first team this season.
Bielsa’s comments about the 18-year-old might have been to cover his own back for not playing Edmondson.
Still, it doesn’t matter now as Leeds will have Patrick Bamford, Tyler Roberts, and Jean-Kevin Augustin to see them through till the end of the season and hopefully, for them, promotion.