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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Leeds United confirmed on Wednesday that striker Kemar Roofe will be out for four weeks after he picked up an injury during the pre-season tour of Australia, and with Gaetano Berardi also absent on the opening day the Whites are once again relying on Marcelo Bielsa’s genius to get them through.
The Yorkshire outfit missed out on promotion to the Premier League last season having been beaten by Derby County in the play-offs, and the aim next term will be to put things right and to ensure they do make a long-awaited return to the top flight.
However, while they have strengthened in wide areas with the addition of Helder Costa – as well as Jack Clarke and Jack Harrison returning to Elland Road on loan – they don’t have the same depth in two other key positions.
With Roofe on the sidelines for the next month, Patrick Bamford is the only senior striker available right now and he hasn’t exactly proven to be the most popular player among the fans – he also missed 22 matches in 2018/19 through injury.
Meanwhile, United have replaced Pontus Jansson with Brighton and Hove Albion’s Ben White on loan, but the youngster has never played above League One level in his career.
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However, with Berardi suspended for the trip to Bristol City on August 4 following his red card against the Rams in May, it is the 21-year-old who is due to line up alongside Liam Cooper unless a new centre-back arrives in the next week or so.
That is surely a huge concern given they have little momentum given they have lost four of their last six league games, and it’s at times like this that Leeds are lucky to have Bielsa on the sideline.
Time and time again the Argentine masterminded some brilliant victories in his debut campaign at the England – most notably at the beginning of the campaign where he led them to four wins from their opening five matches against tough opposition including Stoke City, Derby County and Norwich City.
A repeat of that would be ideal this time around to breed some confidence, but with two big players missing Bielsa faces an uphill task.
Watch fans explain why the Football League is better than the Premier League in the video below…
Who would bet against him pulling it off though, and getting one over on Lee Johnson at Ashton Gate a week on Sunday?
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