Marcelo Bielsa delivers Leeds injury update ahead of Chelsea clash

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Marcelo Bielsa has told his pre-Chelsea press conference – as per Leeds Live – that Diego Llorente is fit to play against Frank Lampard’s side on Saturday and has given an update on three other Leeds players.

Llorente, 27, joined Leeds in the summer from Real Sociedad but has since been unable to make his debut due to a groin injury suffered on international duty. Leeds fans only saw him on the bench against Man City, where he remained an unusued sub.

In his absence, Liam Cooper and Robin Koch have formed an excellent partnership at centre-back – keeping clean sheets in their last two games against Arsenal and Everton. Llorente, though, could now come back in after overcoming injury.

Bielsa confirmed the Spain international is now available to play – while also giving an update on Jamie Shackleton, Pablo Hernandez and Adam Forshaw. The latter remains sidelined, while Shackleton and Pablo could play with the 23’s soon.

“Llorente, he’s healthy,” Bielsa said. “He’s in condition to play. The ideal thing would be for him to play with the under-23s before he plays with the first team because it’s been a while since he’s played now.

“When a player is coming back, it [playing for the 23’s] helps their recovery. Knowing you can manage his game time and the level is a bit lower. This is the ideal process. Especially muscular injuries. Shackleton, Pablo and Llorente are in this situation.”

Bielsa continued, on Forshaw: “Highs and lows. Up until this point he hasn’t been able to do any football practises”

TBR’s view – Should Llorente be thrown in?

No, not straight away. Llorente needs game time in the 23’s not only to regain fitness, but to play in Bielsa’s style and at least get a brief understanding of the complicated way the Argentine likes his side to play.

The best scenario would be for Llorente to remain an unused substitute against Chelsea – especially with Cooper and Koch combining well. Leeds Under-23’s are next in action on December 13, and Llorente is likely to play in that fixture.