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Leeds’s Tyler Roberts has golden opportunity to prove point to Bielsa

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While Leeds United continue to impress many after bringing their exhilarating brand of football to the Premier League, there is one player in Marcelo Bielsa’s squad who has not yet caught fire.

Tyler Roberts has featured in all four of their games so far. He also started the Carabao Cup tie with Hull City last month.

Unfortunately however, the 21-year-old has not yet managed to make a major impact for the Whites.

(Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images)

There have been flashes of brilliance – one pass into Stuart Dallas’s path at the weekend was a reminder of his undeniable quality – but it is perhaps telling that he has not featured for more than 56 minutes in any of his league appearances this term.

Meanwhile, the teammate seemingly looking to steal his position – Rodrigo Moreno – bagged his first goal for the club, after replacing Roberts, at the weekend.

Rodrigo is showing signs of being a real game-changer for Leeds. But if any coach is going to be brave enough to keep faith with Roberts and hold off on changing his starting lineup, it is surely Bielsa.

So there is still an opportunity for the youngster. But there is no question that Rodrigo is piling the pressure on.

(Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images)

That perhaps makes this international break particularly important for Roberts. He is back in the Wales squad after missing the last break. And with three games ahead, he can surely expect to be involved at some stage.

Should that chance come against England tonight, it could arguably be a golden opportunity that Roberts cannot afford to pass up.

Roberts has perfect chance to prove himself on international stage

If Roberts is deployed in the role he is used to at Leeds, Whites fans would be forgiven for only taking interest in one particular battle all evening.

That is because the Welshman may well be up against Kalvin Phillips, who is looking for only his second cap with the Three Lions.

But there is also the possibility that Roberts could be tasked with giving Conor Coady a torrid evening if the Wolves man is involved.

That could be significant as Leeds’s first game after the international break is against Nuno Espirito Santo’s men.

Bielsa will certainly take notice if Roberts comes out on top against Coady tonight. So the Leeds man has to go out there and play as if there is every chance that it could decide whether he joins the rest of the team when they take to the Elland Road pitch in 11 days time.