Marcelo Bielsa on the importance of Robbie Gotts and Barry Douglas if they stay at Leeds United

A loan move has long been talked about for versatile Under 23s midfielder Robbie Gotts with Huddersfield Town keen at one stage and Hull City showing interest more recently. His involvement in Bielsa's first team this season has been limited to the Carabao Cup game against Hull, when he came off the bench with 12 minutes to go.

Last season he played just six minutes of Championship football and his only start came in the FA Cup at Arsenal, but his place on Bielsa's bench for 20 league games showed how close he was to competitive minutes.

Bielsa admitted yesterday that if a 'good opportunity' arose he would be open to allowing the 20-year-old homegrown player out on loan. Ryan Edmondson, Jordan Stevens and Alfie McCalmont have all made temporary moves to get senior experience this season, with Aberdeen, Swindon and Oldham respectively, showing a softening in Bielsa's stance when it comes to the development of his young players and where that takes place. Previously players who were close to the first team were kept in-house, training with the seniors, taking part in murderball and forming part of the matchday squad on occasion.

Gotts is known to be a favourite of Bielsa's and the head coach's words in yesterday's press conference reiterated how much he admires the youngster and perhaps went some way to explaining why a loan has not yet been finalised.

"If a good opportunity presents itself for Gotts to go out on loan we will help to make this happen," said Bielsa.

"If he stays with us he will be in contention here, we think he's a very valuable player for us. It's very difficult to affirm what I've just said as he's had very few minutes in the first team. But it is true that I have a big respect for Gotts' footballing abilities."

Another man yet to feature in the matchday squad for a Premier League fixture is Barry Douglas.

The left-back has already once experienced the euphoria of a Championship title win followed by the disappointment of leaving before kicking a Premier League ball, at Wolves and his sole appearance coming in the Carabao Cup this season has led to suggestions that his future could yet again lie with a club other than the one he helped get promoted.

Last season was a frustrating one for the Scot. Injuries and the form of Stuart Dallas kept him out of the majority of Championship games. He made just six league starts during the title-winning campaign and although his early July showing against Blackburn was among his best in a Leeds shirt, he started just one of the following five games before the season ended.

Bielsa insists the defender could have a contribution to make in the top flight and waxed lyrical about his attitude but his use of the word if when it comes to whether or not Douglas will remain at Elland Road, does little to quell speculation that a move away is a possibility.

"I give you the same answer as I gave you with Gotts, but added to that he is a player who has played many times for the first team," said Bielsa.

"If he continues with us he will be a very useful player for our project. He is an impeccable professional, his preparation has been very, very good. He's an integral part of the group here. Just because he hasn't been part of the 18 in the first two games doesn't mean he won't be useful over the course of a whole season."