Chris Wilder claimed that Leeds United will be even better when some of their key players return following their vital 2-1 victory away at Norwich City.
Goals from Raphinha and Rodrigo in a four-minute spell either side of Andrew Omobamidele’s headed equaliser earned the Whites their second Premier League win of the season.
While Kalvin Phillips returned to the starting XI for the first time in almost a month, Marcelo Bielsa was still without a few of his first-team regulars at Carrow Road.
Patrick Bamford, Luke Ayling and Robin Koch are all still injured and Wilder expects Leeds to return to their best when they have a fully fit squad available.
“I think Marcelo [Bielsa] runs with a small squad, or smaller than usual and they’re huge players for them,” Wilder told Match of the Day 2.
“Ayling is a huge player, Bamford’s a huge player. I like Patrick Bamford and I like Leeds, there’s a little bit of history there but Bamford and Ayling, they’re huge players.
“Phillips coming back, England international and the boy today [Raphinha]. He came back last week and played his part in getting a result and today he was a different class to anybody on the pitch.”
While plenty of Leeds supporters won’t have too much time for what Wilder has to say considering the history that exists there, he makes a very valid point.
With one of the smaller squads in the division, this season has highlighted just how damaging a few injuries to key players can be for the Whites.
However, with the unavailable trio understood to be not far from respective returns to action, things are looking up again for Bielsa and Leeds.
It is hard to imagine that they will be in any kind of relegation battle if the injuries subside but they may have to target reinforcements in the January transfer window.
A long-term injury to either Phillips or Raphinha could quite easily lead to a drop off in form considering how vital their performances are to this current team.
