Aston Villa 3-3 Leeds United - LIVE BLOG: Marcelo Bielsa post-match reaction at Villa Park

Welcome to tonight’s live blog... we’ll have all the latest right here throughout the evening.

Marcelo Bielsa will be missing Patrick Bamford, Liam Cooper, Junior Firpo and Kalvin Phillips for the midweek clash.

The Argentine will, however, have Adam Forshaw, Charlie Cresswell and Jamie Shackleton available again as he selects a team to try and get back to winning ways in the Premier League.

The visit of Leeds United to Villa Park will come too soon for Aston Villa’s £25m signing Leon Bailey according to Steven Gerrard.

The Villa boss says the Jamaican international winger has returned to full training after recovering from a severe thigh strain he picked up late on against Manchester City on December 1.

That injury was a recurrence of a problem that first cropped up in September when he scored his only goal of the season against Everton.

Bailey has started four of Villa’s 21 Premier League games since his big-money move from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in August, with five additional appearances as a substitute.

Both he and attacker Bertrand Traoré will provide Gerrard with a boost, but not in time for the clash with Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites. Gerrard, however, has a fully fit squad otherwise.

YEP XI: Meslier; Ayling, Llorente, Struijk, Dallas; Koch; Forshaw; Klich; Harrison, Raphinha; James.

“In Scotland, [Gerrard] had a brilliant step,” said Bielsa.

“And what he has managed thus far at Aston Villa has been good as he has managed to put his stamp on his team very quickly.

“As a player with prestige, [Countinho’s] past speaks for itself. He’s playing in a Premier League team like Aston Villa, a team in growth, and he’s back in the Brazilian international team.”

“My opinion on Leeds is, as a team and as a squad, they’ve got really talented players, really dangerous players,” Gerrard said.

“They haven’t had the best of luck in terms of injuries, so it’s not fair to judge them too strongly. They’re getting players returning from injury and I’m sure once they get Kalvin Phillips, Patrick Bamford back it wouldn’t surprise me if they find a higher level of consistency.

“I’ve only focused on Leeds over the last few weeks as I was in Scotland up until November, but from the outside I’ve always enjoyed watching Leeds. I think they’re a very exciting team. They take it to every opponent and they’ve got a world class manager who’s done a phenomenal job from where he took over to where he’s got them to now.”

We’ll have team news right here at 8pm...

Leeds United XI: Meslier, Ayling, Koch, Raphinha, Llorente, Dallas, Rodrigo, James, Struijk, Harrison, Klich.

Subs: Klaesson, Forshaw, Roberts, Bate, Gelhardt, Hjelde, McKinstry, Shackleton, Kenneh.

Both teams have headed back into the changing rooms... we’ll await to see them again before kick-off. It’s an 8pm start here this evening.

Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard, speaking to BT Sport: “We felt it has been a good time to reset and really go over our identity, our style and how we wanted to look going forward. We have had people in different places. A few people have had a rest who didn’t really get that in the summer. We have had internationals away, who have all had a good time. They should be full of confidence. We believe we are in a good place. Hopefully, that will show tonight.

“We want to build on the last result and performance. We had to win in a different way at Everton. They put us under pressure at the end but we showed we can fight and compete and win in a different way. Tonight we are at home and I want us to attack, play well and win in style. We also have to stop Leeds’ strengths because they have four really dangerous attackers with pace and speed. They like to counter so our counter-press and balance need to be spot on.

“We need to win as many duels as we can across the pitch. We know they have match-winners. If we can nullify their threat in the front four, we believe we will get opportunities and can create our own good moments. In terms of respect for this manager and team, Leeds are capable of beating anyone on their day if you allow them to show their style.”

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa speaking to BT Sport: “We had a long period of inactivity that we used to rest on one side and prepare on the other. It allowed us to recover some players that have been out of the team.”

On Daniel James playing up front: “I have the idea that he can play in this position. For Wales he shares the attack and he is a player who likes to get in behind. If you watch the games, when there is a cross into the box he is always there making runs to get on the end of it. If you see the two games prior to Newcastle, we score six goals with him in this position. Our last 20 minutes we played with three centre forwards and did not create any danger. That doesn’t absolve James or condemn the other players.”

Villa Park roars as both sets of players emerge from the tunnel... updates to come.

We’ve had the pre-match Premier League anthem... coin toss next and then it’ll be kick-off. Updates to follow.