Could Leeds fans get first glimpse of Raphinha in central role this weekend?

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Leeds United were dealt a major blow ahead of their clash with Leicester on Monday, with the club announcing that Rodrigo was going to miss the game as he is in self-isolation.

Rodrigo has since confirmed on Instagram that he has tested positive for coronavirus. So Marcelo Bielsa will be unable to call upon the summer signing this weekend at Crystal Palace.

Leeds missed Rodrigo against Leicester. Pablo Hernandez showed a flash of brilliance. But he appears to still be getting up to speed after an injury. Meanwhile, Tyler Roberts struggled to make an impact after replacing the Spaniard.

Hernandez may well keep his place at Selhurst Park. And Roberts is likely to be on the bench at least.

But perhaps, the time may be right to consider bringing a potential future plan forward – provided that Raphinha is fit.

Like Rodrigo, Raphinha missed Monday. Bielsa confirmed after the game – in comments reported by Leeds Live – that he sustained an injury. But he suggested that the problem was not serious.

Raphinha return would be huge boost for Leeds

It remains to be seen if he is ready to feature this weekend.

It seems unlikely, if he is ready, that he will start. He is predominantly a winger. And Jack Harrison and Helder Costa were two of the side’s better performers on Monday.

But having him on the bench should perhaps tempt Bielsa to consider Raphinha as a potential option for the number 10 role, as well as out wide.

When Raphinha signed last month – in a deal worth an initial £17 million (via BBC Sport) – Bielsa suggested that he could eventually come into contention in the centre (via Leeds Live).

“He’s an additional alternative to the right-wing position, left-wing position and eventually to the central, offensive midfield position. Fundamentally, he’s a winger who can play on the right or left-hand side,” he said, when asked about what Raphinha would bring to his side.

Of course, it would be very un-Bielsa-like to deviate from his original plans for Raphinha. But there have been glimpses of his game-changing quality already.

And if he came on for Hernandez on Saturday, there is potentially scope to have him and Costa share the number 10 responsibilities.