Leeds United players 'desperate' to play for Premier League place says Tyler Roberts

The forward and his Whites team-mates had hit a purple patch of form before the suspension and were sitting top of the Championship by a point with nine games remaining, when sporting action was called to a halt.

Arguments and debate have raged ever since about how to proceed, with some calling for the season to be declared null and void and others wanting tables to be decided on points per game.

Some clarity on how the Premier League and EFL will act is expected in the coming days, once the government issues an update on their plans for the lockdown. But Roberts, who admits he has largely avoided football during his time away from Elland Road and Thorp Arch, is clear on his preference.

“There’s a lot of stuff up in the air at the minute, but myself and all of the players have said it in the chat, we desperately want to play the season,” he said.

“Even if we did get promoted now [without playing], it would give us more satisfaction to play the games and show what we’re about for the nine remaining games. But it’s more about the health of the world so that’s what we’ve just got to look at right now.”

Players in a number of leagues have expressed concerns over the safety of a return to play but, while Roberts is keen to point out that Leeds have no desire to place their ambition before the requirements of the country’s current predicament, they just want to play and prove one pressing point in particular.

“We are obviously not disregarding the guidelines, but we are desperate to just show and prove in the last nine games that it is different from last season,” he said. “In the last nine games for us [last season] were very rocky and had an effect on how we were at the end of last season.

“I think the boys are more desperate to show people we’ve got what it takes to get promoted and win the Championship. I think that is why the boys are desperate to play again.

“If it is not safe, health is more important of course.”

The ambition and having a point to prove to the footballing world is what drives Roberts to continue giving his all in training, even if it is in his back garden or in the street and not under Marcelo Bielsa’s watchful gaze.

“I don’t think it’s so much about having to keep yourself mentally motivated, we were working towards something we’ve been trying to get for so long,” he said.

“There’s a lot on the line for us so, if we started slacking off or not doing the full fitness sessions, we’ll not be as fit when we come back and it could stop us getting promoted.

“I think all the boys have been doing every rep, every set the best they can for when we do come back.

“We can’t look at when it’s coming back or if it’s going to end, we’re going to be back at some point so we need to be as fit as we can.”