Leeds United team news - Marcelo Bielsa without key duo for Elland Road Southampton clash

STILL OUT - Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips will be missing for the Southampton game says Marcelo Bielsa: Pic: GettySTILL OUT - Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips will be missing for the Southampton game says Marcelo Bielsa: Pic: Getty
STILL OUT - Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips will be missing for the Southampton game says Marcelo Bielsa: Pic: Getty
Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa says he will be without key pair Kalvin Phillips and Rodrigo for tomorrow's clash with Southampton.

Phillips' calf problem and Rodrigo's groin injury will keep them out of the Elland Road clash, but Bielsa says some of his other injury victims are at least making progress in training.

"Kalvin is not available for tomorrow's game, Rodrigo also," he said.

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"Rodrigo slipped in the game against Leicester and his legs separated a big width apart and has a small problem in the inside of his groin. Kalvin has a muscular problem in his calf.

"But [Diego] Llorente is back. [Gaetano] Berardi is evolving, the same as [Ian] Poveda and [Adam] Forshaw is in a process which is a lot slower."

Phillips limped out of the game against Crystal Palace on February 8 with two minutes remaining and missed the subsequent visits to Arsenal and Wolves.

He has missed six games this season so far, three of which were due to a shoulder injury earlier in the season and one of which was due to suspension. Leeds have won just once without their defensive midfielder in the Premier League.

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At Wolves, Bielsa played Jamie Shackleton and Mateusz Klich in the centre of midfield and the pair shared the defensive duties between them. If Bielsa decides Llorente is fit to start again, he could fill the Phillips role or partner Liam Cooper at centre-back, allowing Pascal Struijk to push forward into midfield.

Southampton will be without long-term absentees Will Smallbone, Sam McQueen and Michael Obafemi while Theo Walcott, Ibrahima Diallo and Kyle Walker-Peters are all suffering from hamstring problems. Creative midfielder Stuart Armstrong is currently rated as 50:50 for the game.

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