Marcelo Bielsa on Mateusz Klich's new Leeds United role and what went wrong against Leicester City

Marcelo Bielsa says he puts 'value' in Mateusz Klich's contribution as a defensive midfielder as Leeds United work to find a solution in Kalvin Phillips' absence.

The Whites' head coach has been without the England international for the last two Premier League match days after he suffered a shoulder injury against Wolves last month.

Phillips - who was initially ruled out for six weeks - is hopeful of a return after the upcoming international break.

Bielsa, though, has been left to fill the gap in the meantime with the 24-year-old sidelined once again for this weekend's top flight clash with Crystal Palace.

Pascal Struijk was handed an opportunity at Aston Villa but the Ajax academy product lasted just 21 minutes against Dean Smith's side having picked up an early booking.

The Argentine then opted to move attacking midfielder Klich back into the holding role, with Jamie Shackleton filling in further forward in the Pole's usual position.

The tactical switch worked to good effect at Villa Park as United ran out 3-0 winners on a memorable night for hat-trick hero Patrick Bamford.

Bielsa then opted to hand Klich another opportunity in front of the back four on Monday evening against Leicester City at Elland Road.

United, though, came unstuck against the Foxes as they suffered a 4-1 defeat leaving Bielsa with options to consider ahead of Saturday's visit to the capital.

"What the Leicester game had in common with the game against Aston Villa, Aston Villa had two midfielders, the number seven [John McGinn] and the number 20 [Ross Barkley] and the equivalent for Leicester was number eight [Youri Tielemans] and number 26 [Dennis Praet]," Bielsa said.

"The characteristics of Aston Villa's midfielders were more offensive than Leicester's and Klich defended better in the game against Aston Villa than he did in the game against Leicester.

"That is an interesting detail. It was interesting because, in theory, he should have defended better against Leicester than he did against Aston Villa as Aston Villa's midfielders were more offensive.

"In the tactical interpretation of a game, football can prove you right or prove you wrong.

"Klich against Aston Villa played well within a team that played well and in the game against Leicester, Klich played below the level he had played against Aston Villa and in this game he played below the level within a team which didn't play well.

"In any case I value a lot what Klich did in both games. Klich is a player who can play anywhere in the midfield, but there are places in the pitch where he plays better and others where he doesn't have the same resources.

"Within that his profile is that of a creative player, not a defensive one. He made an important contribution in a position which is not his usual."