Injury issues continue to mount for Bielsa’s Leeds
Marcelo Bielsa’s selection headache shows little sign of easing as Leeds’ Premier League win against relegation rivals Burnley came at a cost.
Leeds’ 3-1 victory lifted them eight points clear of the bottom three, but Tyler Roberts joined their debilitating injury list after being withdrawn.
Roberts hobbled off with what appeared to be a calf injury, while the Wales forward and defender Diego Llorente bothfaceone-matchbansafter receiving their fifth bookings of the season.
Bielsa was satisfied with how Roberts’ replacement, teenagerJoeGelhardt,andfellow sub Dan James played key roles in helping Leeds maintain their edge.
“What we were trying to do wasrecoverthebestwayweare tryingtoplayandinsomeways we got it,” Bielsa said of his second-half changes.
“GelhardtcomingonforTyler maintained the game how we wanted it and down the left Jamesopeneduppathsandhe ended up scoring.”
James’ stoppage-time header sealed a significant win for Leeds, who had earlier regained the lead through StuartDallasafterBurnleysubstituteMaxwelCornet’sexcellent free-kick cancelled out Jack Harrison’s first-half opener.
Leeds secured their fourth league win of the season without talisman Kalvin Phillips, Patrick Bamford, skipper Liam Cooper and club record signing Rodrigo, plus defenders Pascal Struijk and Jamie Shackleton.
JuniorFirpo(ban)andLlorente (illness) both returned to face Burnley as Leeds regrouped during a two-week breakduetopostponedmatches and delivered a much-improveddisplayaftertherecent 4-1 home defeat to Arsenal.