Leeds United have been handed a big injury boost ahead of their game on Wednesday night at Elland Road.
According to Phil Hay, Marcelo Bielsa will be boosted by the return of Adam Forshaw, Charlie Cresswell and Jamie Shackleton for their game against Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa.
Who would you rather start tonight?
Adam Forshaw
Charlie Cresswell
Leeds’ 2021/22 campaign has been a story of injuries plaguing their side, with Bielsa’s options taking a big hit. This includes Patrick Bamford, who has been sidelined for the majority of the campaign due to his respective injuries.
The gap to the bottom three was narrowed slightly on Tuesday night by Newcastle United’s win against Everton, leaving the Whites just six points adrift of the drop zone.
And with Leeds coming into the game on Wednesday night against Villa on the back of a frustrating defeat against relegation-battling Newcastle, could the returns of Forshaw and Cresswell see Bielsa make some changes?
Klich benched?
Mateusz Klich failed to have a major impact in the game against Eddie Howe’s Magpies last month, with the £3.6m-rated midfielder removed with 10 minutes remaining on the clock.
The £3.6m-rated Polish midfielder did not prove much of a defensive rock in the midfield against the Toon, with just one tackle to his name in 80 minutes played.
And with Forshaw returning from the minor injury he sustained in the game against West Ham United, it could open the door for Bielsa to make wholesale changes in the midfield.
The 30-year-old has been a regular feature in Bielsa’s starting XI when fit this season, with the Englishman impressing so much, that the West Yorkshire side offered him a new deal.
There will have been concerns over Forshaw’s fitness after sustaining another injury last month, but the midfielder was able to make a quick recovery.
With Forshaw being a regular under Bielsa this season, will his return from injury see him slot straight back into the starting XI? If so, it may well be Klich who makes way.
Koch dropped?
Robin Koch will have been left feeling a very lucky boy after the game against the Magpies in January after his coming-together in the box with Allan Saint-Maximin went unpunished.
No penalty was awarded against the German, however, he should consider himself very fortunate not to have given Howe’s side another opportunity to seal the points.
With the 25-year-old failing to deal with Saint-Maximin last time out, Bielsa could look to Pascal Struijk to step up in his place on Wednesday night to provide more defensive cover in the midfield.
The Dutch youth international played as a centre-back in the game against Newcastle and has done predominantly all season, however, he has previously played a bit higher up as a defensive midfielder (via Transfermarkt).
And if the 22-year-old was to push up, Cresswell could fit in alongside Diego Llorente in Bielsa’s backline now he is available again for selection.
The youngster has only one Premier League start to his name this season, but could the Argentine manager look to put his trust in the 19-year-old on the back of the dreadful display against Newcastle?
In other news: ‘It gets even better’ – Joe Wainman left buzzing as Leeds update emerges