'For all of us it is a very happy moment' - Marcelo Bielsa on return of Leeds United favourite

The Swiss defender, out of action since knee surgery in the summer, finally rejoined his team-mates at the club's training facility on Monday and can now attempt to complete his rehabilitation in order to play football once again.

Berardi is a player Bielsa has long admired, the head coach often waxing lyrical about the centre-half and the esteem with which he is held by his team-mates and the staff.

Seeing him back in training this week was a moment to celebrate, said Bielsa.

"Berardi is a player who is respected by all his teammates and ourselves," said the Argentine.

"He made a big effort throughout the last six months to recover. For all of us it is a very happy moment to see him working with the team.

"From now onwards he will take the necessary steps so he can start to play again."

If the first step was on the running track Bielsa had installed at Thorp Arch and the second was Bielsa's famous murderball sessions, the third will be Under 23s football.

Berardi will be targetting match minutes in the Premier League 2, in the hope that he can feature for the senior side before the end of the season when his contract runs out.

The knee injury occured in the penultimate game of last season, at Derby County, and left Berardi to celebrate the club's promotion on crutches.

He and the club came to an agreement to sign a contract for this season after club owner Andrea Radrizzani vowed to sort something out for the defender at the end of season awards presentation.