Kalvin Phillips latest, the January signings and second-hardest test - Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United in-tray

How is Kalvin Phillips?

United's holding midfield star Phillips missed Saturday's win against the Terriers due to issues with the knee injury that he picked up in the 1-0 win at home to Reading.

Losing Phillips is always a big blow though in the circumstances, Ben White produced probably his best display yet in the central defensive midfield role as Gaetano Berardi stepped in to partner skipper Liam Cooper at centre-back.

Thankfully, Phillips' injury is not serious and the midfielder is fully expected to be back available for Sunday's trip to Cardiff City.

The midfielder basically missed the clash against Huddersfield as a precaution but nevertheless, a check on the 24-year-old's condition will surely be one of Bielsa's first ports of call.

The January signings latest

Little has been seen of United's main January recruits Jean-Kevin Augustin and Ian Poveda with Poveda yet to even make his Whites debut after joining from Manchester City.

Poveda again failed to make the bench against Huddersfield, even with Jordan Stevens missing through being unwell.

Poveda would seem fairly sure to be involved with United's under-23s when they play Barnsley on Monday for a 2pm kick-off and the winger will then surely be looking to impress in training with a view to featuring against the Bluebirds.

Augsutin, meanwhile, who has been limited to three second-half appearances from the bench, has not made United's last three matchday squads with the striker out with a hamstring injury.

Bielsa will be sure to be assessing the latest with Augustin and also Stevens who United's head coach clearly rates highly considering his frequent appearances on the bench.

Under-23s action

United's under-23s had no game last week and Bielsa will be welcoming the prospect of United's development side facing Barnsley on Monday afternoon for a 2pm kick-off.

The Leeds head coach has frequently fielded first-team players who have been lacking minutes for the under-23s and the likes of Barry Douglas and Poveda could be the main names featuring at Barnsley with Douglas an unused substitute against the Terriers.

January signing Elia Caprile also seems likely to be involved along with Pascal Struijk and Oliver Casey who were unused substitutes against Huddersfield.

Tyler Roberts was handed 11 minutes from the bench against Town with Jamie Shackleton playing seven minutes and Gjanni Alioski just the one minute plus added time and it remains to be seen if they are involved too, and also Leif Davis who has recently returned from injury.

Preparing for Cardiff City

On paper at least, this coming Sunday's assignment appears one of United's hardest remaining games with Neil Harris' side ninth and just two points off the play-offs following Saturday's 2-0 win at Barnsley.

Fulham aside, Cardiff are the highest-placed opponents of the nine teams Leeds are yet to face and Bielsa will be studying Sunday's opponents to the nth degree as United look for a sixth win in succession.

After throwing away a 3-0 lead at home to Cardiff to draw 3-3 in December, Sunday's contest could also be viewed as payback time.