Leeds shown why Gaetano Berardi must be offered new deal once fit

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Marcelo Bielsa has been handed a selection headache ahead of Leeds United’s return to Premier League action on Monday, with Liam Cooper and Diego Llorente sustaining injuries on international duty.

Llorente missed Spain’s final game after sustaining a problem in training. Meanwhile, concerns about Cooper emerged hours later when he was missing from Scotland’s squad for their clash with Slovakia.

Leeds have since confirmed on their official website that Llorente will miss up to three weeks. Cooper could be ready for a fitness test ahead of Monday’s clash with Wolves, but is expected to be out for up to a fortnight.

It is a big blow for Bielsa’s men. Robin Koch now looks set to play alongside youngster Pascal Struijk against Wolves. And it will surely be right-back Luke Ayling who joins them if the Whites opt for a back three.

The current issues are surely unlikely to tempt Bielsa to make any sort of last-ditch bid to make any signings. Leeds have tended to do most of their business early on in the window in recent times.

Berardi could still have role to play under Bielsa

But perhaps the injuries to Cooper and Llorente highlight why Leeds must be ready to hand Gaetano Berardi a new contract once he is back fit.

In truth, it would be little surprise if the Whites planned to offer Berardi fresh terms anyway. He has been an outstanding servant for Leeds.

And he only picked up his devastating injury after agreeing to extend his contract to ensure that he was around for the final weeks of last season’s extended campaign.

It arguably looks to be the right thing to do therefore, to hand Berardi a new contract anyway.

But in football terms, there is no question that having him around will be a huge boost if Leeds experience similar problems later on in the season.