Marcelo Bielsa highlights Leeds United defender's recent impact as a high point of the season

MARCELO Bielsa has described Diego Llorente's recent impact as one of Leeds United's high points of the season.
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Spanish international centre-back Llorente endured a series of injuries following his £18m switch from Real Sociedad last September, so much so that the defender only made his full Whites home debut in February's 3-0 win at home to Southampton.

That outing marked just Llorente's third appearance for the Whites and second start but the 27-year-old has now played the full duration of United's last seven league games.

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It means Llorente has gone from playing 91 minutes of club football in five months to playing 630 minutes in six and a half weeks - and Whites head coach Bielsa has been hugely impressed.

START OF THE RUN: Leeds United centre back Diego Llorente, left, in the first of seven consecutive full Whites games in a row against Southampton at Elland Road in February. Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images.START OF THE RUN: Leeds United centre back Diego Llorente, left, in the first of seven consecutive full Whites games in a row against Southampton at Elland Road in February. Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images.
START OF THE RUN: Leeds United centre back Diego Llorente, left, in the first of seven consecutive full Whites games in a row against Southampton at Elland Road in February. Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images.

Asked about Llorente's recent form, the Whites head coach hailed the Spaniard's impact and the early season form of the now fit again Robin Koch as "high points" for the Whites.

"He has played well, he hasn't had any bad games," said Bielsa.

"He's had a performance level that has improved every single time we have played.

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"He started playing well and from there onwards, he's been playing better.

"And him as well as Koch, in the first part of the season, they have been high points of our season."

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Thank you Laura Collins