Marcelo Bielsa voices regret over Izzy Brown loan spell with playmaker doubtful for Leeds United clash

Marcelo Bielsa has voiced his regret over Izzy Brown's loan spell at Leeds United last season saying he is happy to see his return to form with Luton.

The 22-year-old spent the 2018/19 campaign with the Whites after joining the club from Premier League side Chelsea on a season-long loan deal.

Brown, though, joined the club having endured a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a torn ACL and failed to regain full fitness during the first six months of his loan.

A frustrating period saw him make just two appearances for the club's senior squad as he totalled 11 minutes of first team action before returning to Stamford Bridge having completed his rehab at Thorp Arch.

Brown joined up with Luton for another spell away from the Blues in the Championship this term and has enjoyed a strong start to the campaign having bagged five assists in 12 league appearances so far.

Bielsa - speaking ahead of the fixture at Kenilworth Road - has now admitted his regret over the circumstances around Brown's move to Elland Road.

"I am very happy for him because he is a player who was with us and had a very good behaviour here," Bielsa said.

"He is showing a level he didn't show with us. I consider this as a mistake. I am sure Luton could give him things that I couldn't.

"At Luton he is able to compete to play matches and we could not give him that. After, you can see this in a different way. If we could have achieved and had him for one more year, maybe we could have got another version of him.

"He arrived healthy (at Luton) and recovered and when he did six months work, he couldn't work properly, but I do not want you to take credit from the people who are with him now because other staff achieved to make the best of him."

Hatters head coach Graeme Jones has revealed that Brown remains a major doubt for the clash against his former side with a hamstring issue.

The midfielder missed his sides 3-0 defeat to Reading last time out before the international break and is facing a race against time to be fit for the weekend showdown.

“We’ll have to assess him again in the morning," Jones revealed.

"It’s been progressive, let’s put it like this. Obviously in a three game week, you don’t want to take any unnecessary risks, because we want him available, so we’ll assess it again in the morning.”