'Maybe he'd have thought I was very good' - Ex-Leeds striker rues missing out on Bielsa chance

The 29-year-old spent an underwhelming two-year stint in England after signing for the Whites from Swedish side Kalmar FF in 2016.

Antonsson scored just three times in 21 outings across an injury-ravaged spell, however, and was shipped out to Blackburn Rovers on loan for the 2017/18 campaign.

Things fared marginally better for the Swede at Ewood Park, and he registered eight goals in 34 appearances that season.

That return wasn’t enough to convince the incoming Bielsa of his worth though, and the hitman was sold Malmo FF just one month after the Argentine arrived at Elland Road.

But in a recent interview, Antonsson suggested that it was his recurrent spells in the treatment room that prevented him from building up any kind of momentum in the English game, as well as implying that he felt he could have offered something to Bielsa’s project had he been given more time with the South American boss.

Speaking to Norwegian outlet VG, he said: “My development at Leeds was stopped by injuries. I also had a good period at Blackburn until I was injured again.

"You learn a lot, and it is useful to get out of Scandinavia and get yourself tested in England. You cannot decide on injuries, but I felt that I developed in England.

“We [Leeds] were without a coach when I left [to join Rovers on loan]. The club changed owner and manager, and they wanted to make their own mark on the team. They wanted to take in their players, and did not want me to continue.

“Bielsa came [started working with the first team] right after I had left, and it was a bit awkward that I did not get the chance to show myself in front of him. You do not know, maybe he’d have thought I was very good.

"But you cannot look back, I focus on what is happening here and now”.

Antonsson is currently on loan at Norwegian side Stabaek Fotball, but has failed to score in any of his first four league outings for his new side.