Chris Kelly has been speaking on the All Leeds YouTube channel about Charlie Cresswell and how he wants him to start at the weekend.
Cresswell was handed his debut in the Carabao Cup last season by Marcelo Bielsa, and much like Tuesday’s match against Fulham, that one went to penalties – although Leeds were on the wrong side of the shootout against Hull City last season.
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The match against Fulham was Cresswell’s first appearance for Bielsa’s senior side since that Carabao Cup defeat, and he certainly did himself no harm, racking up 121 touches as the manager admitted the centre-back has ‘taken a step forward‘ in terms of getting a chance in the Premier League.
Kelly is excited by Cresswell’s future and would like to see him go up against Michail Antonio this weekend.
“With Michail Antonio up front for them, we need a big, strong centre-back in there, someone who can try and match Antonio for that strength and not be bullied on the ball.
“I always think we’re, certainly without Llorente in there, we’re always a bit light, and we look a bit – weak might be the wrong word, but you get my drift.
“Whereas, I think Cresswell brings some real strength and he’s going to be an absolute baller, and he’s another one who I think deserves that game time now, I really do.”
TIF Thoughts on Cresswell…
It would be a huge moment for Cresswell, but also a massive decision for Bielsa to make if he was to hand the 19-year old his Premier League debut, especially against one of the most in-form strikers in the league, with Antonio having already scored four goals in the league this season.
Bielsa may be forced into picking Cresswell, though, especially with Luke Ayling not 100% confirmed to be fit for the weekend, Pascal Struijk still suspended and Diego Llorente injured. Therefore, it could be Kalvin Phillips or Cresswell that start alongside Liam Cooper, with the former two forming a partnership against Fulham in midweek.