Spotlight on Tyler Roberts and Patrick Bamford after Leeds United reshuffle with Pablo Hernandez return

Roberts had strongly advertised his claims to start in the lone striker role before lockdown when netting a clinical brace on as a second half substitute for Patrick Bamford in the 4-0 romp at Hull City.

After a brief outing from the bench upfront in the 2-0 triumph at home to Huddersfield Town, one and a half games in the no 10 role had followed in the absence of Pablo Hernandez in the 2-0 loss at Cardiff City and the first-half of Saturday's clash against the Cottagers.

But the introduction of Hernandez from the bench during the interval against Fulham saw Bamford and not Roberts withdrawn with the young Wales international given another shot in the lone striker role that Bamford usually fills.

As it was, Spanish magician Hernandez took the plaudits with his sublime passing including a majestic long ball for Jack Harrison to net United's third.

Speaking after the game, Bielsa highlighted the co-ordination between Hernandez with Roberts' movement and said that Bamford's energy in the first-half had not been transported into an efficient performance.

Leeds were definitely fortunate to enter half-time in front yet it was Bamford's clinical strike that gave United that advantage to hold on to.

Thereafter, United's no 9 worked hard but found getting involved difficult aside from having claims for a penalty when tumbling to the ground after looking to poke the ball past 'keeper Marek Rodak towards the end of the half.

After moving upfront, Roberts then looked lively in the second half but without making quite the same impression on the game as Hernandez.

On the figures, Bamford had just 12 touches of the ball with the forward attempting seven passes of which five were accurate but crucially his only shot at goal ended up in the back of the net.

Roberts, who it should be remembered, was on the pitch for twice as long as Bamford, had 32 touches of the ball and attempted 20 passes of which 15 were accurate including one key pass which set up the Harrison chance shortly after the restart.

Roberts also had two attempts at goal with one off target and one on target but never troubling Rodak.

Yet it was Bamford's strike that had ultimately got the ball rolling for Leeds and Bielsa is now left with a double quandary of who to start in not just the no 10 role but also upfront.

Much obviously depends on Hernandez's fitness and a fully fit Hernandez is the first name on the team sheet.

But essentially it looks like two from three out of Hernandez, Roberts and Bamford to start against Luton with Bamford and Roberts again vying for the lone striker role.

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