Injury boost for Marcelo Bielsa as Diego Llorente looks sharp in goalscoring return for Leeds United Under 23s against Stoke City

The Spanish international lined up at centre-half alongside Charlie Cresswell in a strong 23s side against Stoke City in Premier League 2 action this afternoon.

It was a 45-minute cameo for the defender, who is fit again after a series of injuries that have disrupted the early part of his Leeds career.

A groin problem picked up on international duty earlier in the season was followed by a fresh knock sustained in his Whites debut at Chelsea, and then a further setback.

Marcelo Bielsa included him in his squad for Saturday's game against Brighton but his first minutes of football since that December 3-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge came in today's 23s game.

The quality of the opposition must be be taken into account but Leeds fans can be encouraged by what Llorente showed.

He was on the front foot from the off, setting Sam Greenwood away on a run that nearly brought the opening goal. On 10 minutes the defender came close to glory himself with a 40-yard effort from a bouncing ball that just cleared the crossbar.

A number of interceptions in and around halfway kept Stoke under pressure and he was strong in the tackle and in the air. But it was on the ball that he particularly impressed, looking comfortable in possession and helping Leeds to move the ball around the pitch at pace.

On 28 minutes he capped the performance with a goal, peeling off at the back post to send a powerful header back across goal and into the Stoke net, from a Kalvin Phillips delivery.

Under 23s boss Mark Jackson replaced him at the break with Cresswell's regular partner Oliver Casey, Leeds taking a 1-0 lead into the interval.

Llorente will have another eight days to get himself ready for first team action. Leeds' midweek game against Southampton was postponed to allow the Saints' FA Cup fixture against Shrewsbury to take place, making the Tuesday, January 26 trip to Newcastle United the next outing for Bielsa's side.

Bielsa has had to contend with injuries to Llorente, Liam Cooper and Robin Koch at centre-half this season, necessitating a make-shift central defensive partnership of right-back Luke Ayling and youngster Pascal Struijk.

A fit-again Cooper partnered Ayling against Brighton but the availability of Llorente will come as a boost for Leeds, with Koch still a couple of months away from action after surgery on a knee problem.