The Athletic’s Phil Hay has told the Talking Shutt Podcast that the Leeds United supporters are unlikely to see Ryan Edmondson feature for club this season.
The 19-year-old forward has yet to make a league appearance this season, having only been used by Marcelo Bielsa on one occasion, which dates as far back as September 2018, while he has failed to make the matchday squad since the final day of last season’s regular Championship campaign.
Hay was asked whether Edmondson had been back in training with the team since the easing of lockdown, to which he responded: “I don’t honestly know, but I would be a little surprised, because he had surgery very shortly before the shutdown of the season started. He will be well short of match fitness, I would imagine. In the absence of any Under-23s games, there is no scope for players who are on the fringes to build up any match fitness.
“And I’ve got to say, I’m yet to be convinced that Bielsa is convinced about Edmondson. He said some nice things about him at the very point where Edmondson was going for surgery – he said his performance in training had been much closer to what he was looking for and what he wanted, but he’s never seem minded to use him at any stage.
“Edmondson has always felt to me like one of those that Bielsa is not sure about.”
Does Ryan Edmondson have a future under Bielsa?
Yes
No
TIF Thoughts…
Whilst Hay was unable to confirm whether or not the player has returned to training, his comments suggest he cannot see the York-born striker becoming a regular under the Argentinian coach. With so much at stake for Leeds United between now and the end of the season, and the fact there are no Under-23 games, we believe it’s unlikely Bielsa will risk calling on any players for whom fitness is a major concern.