Video: Klich and Cibicki stuck on the sidelines at Leeds United

POLISH international Mateusz Klich has again failed to make the match-day Leeds United squad for Saturday's trip to Barnsley with head coach Thomas Christiansen admitting he understands the midfielder's disappointment.
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Klich joined Leeds for a fee in the region of £1.5m from FC Twente in June but the 27-year-old has made just one league start for United and has regularly failed to make the match-day 18.

A one-match ban for fellow centre-midfielder Ronaldo Vieira could have handed Klich a possible opening for Saturday’s Championship clash at Oakwell, but Christiansen has revealed the Pole is once again not in the match-day squad.

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“The thing is I have a good squad,” said Christiansen, asked about Klich and also fellow summer recruit Pawel Cibicki, who has also found opportunities extremely limited.

“I have to choose and leave players out. I know they have been out for a long time but if they have to come in, I have to take somebody else out.

“I’m thinking of possibilities during the game, if the score is up or down, and what to do. This is why I take these decisions. Of course they will be disappointed. I would have been disappointed as well. But this is part of football. One moment you are out, the second you are in.”

Klich took to social media on Friday to post a much-used GIF of actor Ryan Reynolds showing disappointment with a facepalm. The post was ‘liked’ by Cibicki.

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With Vieira suspended and Klich not involved, Irish international midfielder Eunan O’Kane appears in pole position to partner Kalvin Phillips in centre midfield for Saturday’s Yorkshire derby at Oakwell.

SIDELINED: Leeds United's 
Mateusz Klich. Picture: Tony Johnson.SIDELINED: Leeds United's 
Mateusz Klich. Picture: Tony Johnson.
SIDELINED: Leeds United's Mateusz Klich. Picture: Tony Johnson.

But Christiansen admitted that summer signing Vurnon Anita was another player in his thoughts as an option for centre midfield. Anita has been used predominantly as a left-back since joining Leeds. Asked if Anita was in his thoughts to play in centre midfield, Christiansen admitted: “He is in the squad and he’s an option.”