Marcelo Bielsa reveals two potential solutions to Leeds United midfield injury crisis, gives good news on Hernandez and Cooper

The Leeds United head coach will be without Adam Forshaw and his natural successor Jamie Shackleton.

Forshaw is still struggling with a hip problem and according to Bielsa won’t be back in time to face the Lions, while Shackleton is expected to be out for up to four weeks after suffering a hamstring issue at Elland Road in midweek.

Bielsa showcased both of his potential solutions on Tuesday night in the 1-0 win over West Brom.

Tyler Roberts replaced Shackleton at half-time against the Baggies to partner Mateusz Klich. But later in the game Bielsa took Roberts off and put right-back Stuart Dallas in the centre, with fit-again Luke Ayling filling in for the Ulsterman in defence.

The decision to send on the more attack-minded Roberts at the break was one Bielsa later deemed a mistake, hence substituting the substitute.

The Argentine is minded to go with one of those two options again at the Den.

“Probably we’re going to play Ayling instead of Dallas and Dallas instead of Shackleton, or [Mateusz] Klich for Shackleton and Roberts in place of Klich,” said Bielsa.

Leeds will also be without captain Liam Cooper and winger Pablo Hernandez, meaning Gaetano Berardi is likely to join Ben White in central defence and Helder Costa will keep his spot on the right wing.

There is, at least, some good news in the progress Hernandez is making with an unspecified muscular problem and in the timeframe put on Cooper’s absence.

Bielsa, who said Hernandez is ‘better’ than he was, also expressed his belief that Cooper’s injury won’t be a worst case scenario situation.

“Liam’s injury is not going to be six weeks, less,” added the head coach.