Leeds United: Saiz needs protecting from himself, reveals Heckingbottom

The Spaniard missed the 2-1 Yorkshire Derby defeat to Sheffield Wednesday ahead of the international break and looked set to miss the busy Easter period.

Saiz though made his comeback on Good Friday in front of a packed out Elland Road coming on for forward Pierre-Michael Lasogga for the final half an hour of the 2-1 victory over Bolton Wanderers.

United manager Heckingbottom revealed that although Siaz had been back in training he and his staff would have to manage the playmaker's involvement for the next few weeks.

"He's missed a lot," Heckingbottom told his post-Bolton press conference.

"We know from the scan that the prognosis was that he was going to be out a long time. He maybe could have been but he's determined to play. He wants to play 90 minutes of every game.

"It's a case of protecting him from himself. He's a valuable player. Credit to the medical team who have been working with him and credit to Samu that he wants to play.

"It's a case now that we manage him through the next two weeks because after that he should be out of the woods and 100%.

Asked if Saiz had been instrumental in his swift return to the side the Leeds boss replied: "He's pushing himself onto the pitch, definitely."