Leeds United given huge Kalvin Phillips boost but Pablo Hernandez joins injury list for Arsenal clash

LEEDS United's England international midfielder Kalvin Phillips is back available from a shoulder injury and is likely to start in Sunday's Premier League hosting of Arsenal.
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Record signing Rodrigo has also been confirmed to be back available following his isolation after testing positive for coronavirus but Spanish international centre-back Diego Llorente remains sidelined and playmaker Pablo Hernandez has also picked up a muscular injury to join Jamie Shackleton on the sidelines.

Shackleton is out with a quad injury while Llorente had been missing with a groin issue and suffered a fresh setback.

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Whites head coach Marcelo Bielsa says that Llorente is now cured but will need time before being returning to the fray.

BACK IN BUSINESS: Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips. Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images.BACK IN BUSINESS: Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips. Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images.
BACK IN BUSINESS: Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips. Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images.

United were hit with the news that Phillips could be looking at around six weeks out with a shoulder injury in the aftermath of the 1-0 Premier League loss at home to Wolves on October 19 though the club were left relieved that the problem did not require surgery.

Bielsa then insisted that in actual fact the period that Phillips would be out for was “undefined” – that the timescale could be shorter or longer – and Phillips said on a podcast with LeedsThat on October 28 that he had torn ligaments in his shoulder but that he now hoped to return in three to four weeks' time.

Record signing Rodrigo, meanwhile, was forced to miss the home clash against Leicester City at the beginning of the month following close contact with a family member who subsequently tested positive for COVID-19.

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The Spaniard then revealed that he had tested positive for the virus and would have to self isolate forcing him to miss both United's Premier League clash at Crystal Palace and also Spain's November internationals.

But Rodrigo's period of self isolation is over and Bielsa said Rodrigo and Phillips were now both back for Sunday's clash against the Gunners but that Llorente would still be out.

Asked if Rodrigo, Llorente and Phillips were back available to face Arsenal, Bielsa said: "Kalvin, yes. Rodrigo, yes. Diego Llorente, not yet. Shackleton, not yet.

"We have added Pablo Hernandez to the injury list also - he picked up a muscular injury this week. It is nothing serious but he won't be available."

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Asked about the latest with Llorente, Bielsa said: "What happened with Llorente is that he was injured and recovered. He then had a relapse in the first training session back.

"He is now cured but because of the relapse he is being given extra time to fully get back to be sure."

Asked if Phillips was fit enough to start, Bielsa said: "It's probable. I can't guarantee it - but it is probable. It is less likely that Rodrigo will start."

Adam Forshaw remains sidelined with a long term hip issue but Bielsa did not mention Gjanni Alioski who left the North Macedonia international camp early after experiencing a swollen hamstring.

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His departure from the squad was only thought to be precautionary with Alioski having already helped North Macedonia qualify for next summer's Euros.

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Thank you Laura Collins

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