Marcelo Bielsa explains situation with Ian Poveda as winger still awaits Leeds United debut

Winger Poveda joined Leeds in January from Manchester City but the England under-20s international has yet to make his Whites debut.

The 19-year-old was named on the Whites bench for the Championship clash at home to Wigan Athletic on February 1 but has not featured amongst the substitutes for United's last two encounters at Nottingham Forest and Brentford.

Poveda has also had three outings for United's under-23s - with fellow January recruit Jean-Kevin Augustin also playing twice for United's development side.

Bielsa has repeatedly stated how striker Augustin will need to complete an adaptation period and to increase his fitness before being considered for a first-team start.

Augustin arrived at Leeds from his loan spell at Monaco from parent club RB Leipzig having made just four league starts in the last 15 months and so far making two second-half appearances for the Whites from the bench.

Poveda has yet to savour any first team action for Leeds but Bielsa says the winger is naturally a fit player and has only been missing for the last two games due to the options United's head coach wanted on the bench.

"It’s a different situation," said Bielsa, asked if Poevda was improving in the evolution that he spoke about the other day.

"Poveda is a player who gets his physical fitness quicker.

"He’s a light player with a lot of technical resources.

"He played one position where those skills, those specific things, are important.

"He plays as a winger and he has to attack and defend as a full-back. "In this sense, he doesn’t need any adaptation."

Poveda made the Whites bench against Wigan alongside forward Tyler Roberts, winger Jordan Stevens, midfielder Jamie Shackleton, defenders Oliver Casey and Gaetano Berardi and 'keeper Ilan Meslier.

But Poveda dropped off the bench for last weekend's clash at Forest as Augustin was named as another forward option alongside Roberts amongst the substitutes with Pascal Struijk replacing Casey. Stevens remained the other wing option.

Roberts then missed Tuesday night's clash at Brentford following a knock to his calf but Poveda still failed to make the bench with winger/full back Gjanni Alioski dropping to sit amongst the substitutes by the return of Kalvin Phillips to the first team following a three-match ban.

Barry Douglas also returned from injury to sit on the bench as Struijk dropped off meaning United's bench at Brentford consisted of Augustin, Stevens, Shackleton, Douglas, Berardi and Meslier.

Roberts will still be missing for Saturday's Championship hosting of Bristol City.

Asked why Poveda had missed United's last two games and if there was something particularly impressing him about Stevens, Bielsa explained: "I always organise the substitutes with two defenders, two midfielders and two strikers.

"One defender from the centre, the other from the side.

"Midfielders, one more defensive, the other more offensive.

"The two strikers, one centre forward and one player who attacks from the sides.

"If we have a good condition to do this I respect these things, if not I adapt it.

"I always chose the players for this particular match that are in the best conditions. "