Fit-again Diego Llorente can finally start to consign Brighton's Ben White and Leeds United what ifs to the past - Graham Smyth

The defender had just played a blinder in midfield against his former side and the head coach with whom he celebrated a Championship title.

He was a natural choice for the television companies to get in front of their cameras, given his ties to the beaten side and the performance he produced on his return to LS11.

He was a natural choice for Bielsa when it came to last summer's recruitment drive, when Leeds attempted to add the quality they felt could help keep them in the Premier League beyond their first season back in 16 years.

And as the 65-year-old Argentine shared an affectionate moment with the 23-year-old, it was natural to wonder 'what if?'

What if Brighton had been ground down by Leeds' repeated overtures? What if White had decided to force the issue?

What if, somehow, he had made the move permanent and stayed in the white shirt he graced so wonderfully last season?

We're in lockdown, even those of us fortunate enough to have children to homeschool and jobs to do find ourselves with too much time on our hands, so these kind of questions pop up and linger, especially in weeks with no fixture.

Permit your mind to stray into the hypothetical.

Would Leeds have endured the defensive difficulties that have become the obsession of pundits when they lose? Probably, would be my guess.

White's partnership with Liam Cooper and his understanding of Bielsa's system, the midfield interceptions he perfected from centre-half and the dribbles out of defence that relieved pressure, would undoubtedly have benefitted Leeds, collectively and individually. White's presence was reassuring for Kalvin Phillips, it allowed Mateusz Klich to get involved further up the pitch where he can do most harm and his long-range passing would give Patrick Bamford a good chance of beating defenders to the ball.

They, in turn, made him better. Cooper helped him massively, particularly in the early days at Thorp Arch and in early Championship games, while Phillips' defensive solidity allowed his best mate White to burst forward with little fear and the players ahead of him were capable of going on and doing something productive with the ball he had just won, making his interceptions look even more vital.

But Leeds would still have been the risk-taking team we've seen since Bielsa came in. They would still be susceptible to counter attacks, set-pieces and pace and they would still have struggled to contain attackers of the ability of Mo Salah, Jamie Vardy et al.

The adaptation period Leeds have been going through as a newly promoted side, is the same that White has been going through on a personal level, having never played at the top level before this season.

Like Leeds, he too found it difficult facing the ruthlessness of Harry Kane against Spurs and the skill and speed of Marcus Rashford against Manchester United.

He's not yet had enough game time in his traditional centre-half position to be able to fully establish himself as an elite player there, filling a midfield role in eight of his 18 top flight appearances, although there's little doubt he can go on and do that.

And if the die is indeed cast when it comes to White and Leeds, it will forever remain a shame for people in this part of the world that he could not go on and establish himself as an elite player at Elland Road, joining his pal Phillips in the England squad and living out the dream together.

It was one fairytale ending too far, for Whites whose dreams came true thanks to a promotion won by players and a head coach they adored.

Instead, Leeds turned to Robin Koch and Diego Llorente, neither of whom have yet had the chance to write much of their own Elland Road stories.

Indeed, you could ask what if the pair had not been removed from Bielsa's squad by injuries? At least in their cases, we will eventually get answers.

Koch was recently said to have been progressing well in his rehabilitation from knee surgery, having made a solid start to the season given the context of the knee problem he was carrying since his debut, and Llorente returned with a goal for the 23s this week.

The latter looked the part, albeit against a young Stoke City reserve side, intercepting the ball high up the pitch in a manner that can only be naturally likened to White.

The what ifs might always plague Leeds, to some extent, but a fit-again Llorente will soon get the chance to start proving that the man he and Koch came in to replace does not have to be a ghost that haunts this club.