Marcelo Bielsa addresses whether Leeds United defender Diego Llorente can withstand Premier League football

Spanish international Llorente has featured just twice for Leeds since signing from Real Sociedad in the summer but the £18m recruit is back available from his latest injury setback ahead of Friday night's Premier League clash at Wolves.

Having earlier picked up a hamstring injury and then another muscular setback, the 27-year-old finally made his full Whites debut in last month's clash at Newcastle United but the centre-back lasted just ten minutes after picking up another muscular injury.

Whites head coach Bielsa then admitted he was worried about Llorente's state of mind given the succession of injuries that he has had but the defender is now back available ahead of United's Friday night trip to Molineux.

Bielsa said the needs of the team over the next few weeks would decide when Llorente would be used and United's head coach admitted there was only one way to consistently answer questions about continued injury fears.

Asked given his lengthy history with injuries whether Llorente had been unlucky with Leeds or if his body was not up to the demands of the Premier League - and pushed on the Spaniard currently looking like a risky signing that was not paying off - Bielsa reasoned: "He is an international with Spain.

"He is a player who was formed and came through at Real Madrid's youth teams.

"I obviously consider what you are saying.

"It's very difficult to ignore all the injuries that he has had.

"There's only one satisfactory response to your question, that he doesn't repeat another of his injuries and that he is able to play regularly and show his qualities.

"He plays well with desire and he works in a big way to make sure that this happens but anything I say of course you can come back to me with the points that you have made.

"The only way to have consistency in the response is if he comes back and plays with regularity.

"If he comes back and he is not able to play regularly then the response can't be consistent.

"That's why we have to wait and see what happens."

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-team-news-marcelo-bielsa-provides-updates-diego-llorente-kalvin-phillips-rodrigo-mateusz-klich-and-ian-poveda-3139100

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/yorkshire-evening-post-launch-leeds-united-only-digital-subscription-ahead-premier-league-campaign-2967964

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Thank you Laura Collins