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Joe Donnohue

Five things spotted in new Leeds United training video as drill reveals possible Bielsa lineup

Leeds United take on Aston Villa tomorrow evening with Marcelo Bielsa revealing only Patrick Bamford, Junior Firpo, Kalvin Phillips and Liam Cooper are among the senior players he will not be able to count on.

The injury list has shrunk considerably in recent weeks, with Rodrigo Moreno, Pascal Struijk, Joe Gelhardt as well as Adam Forshaw and Jamie Shackleton now returning to the fold.

Latest pictures from the club's Thorp Arch training ground show the players undergoing drills in pairs and small groups, with a whole host of familiar faces taking part.

Here are five observations made from the latest Leeds United training video.

No Phillips or Cooper

Marcelo Bielsa told journalists on Monday morning that Kalvin Phillips and Liam Cooper were on track in their recovery from surgery following hamstring injuries picked up last December.

The duo were pictured outdoors last week, and appeared to be involved in light training as they step up their comebacks, however in this week's training video, the pair are nowhere to be seen.

This is no reason to panic, however, as Bielsa has always insisted March is the projected return date for the duo.

Shack is back

Jamie Shackleton was pictured in full training with the rest of the available first-team squad this week for the first time since December.

Jamie Shackleton and Pascal Struijk work inside the gym at Leeds United's Thorp Arch training facility, February 8, 2022 (LUTV)

Shackleton was withdrawn from the 7-0 defeat against Manchester City last December with an apparent Achilles injury.

The young midfielder is seen in the gym, balancing on exercise equipment, and taking part in outdoor rondos with the rest of the team, indicating his recovery is complete, as Bielsa attested to on Monday.

Raphinha feeling the cold

Leeds' Brazilian maverick Raphinha has spent approximately 16 months in the United Kingdom, but is still not used to the weather, it seems.

The 25-year-old is covered head-to-toe in Leeds United training gear, including leg-warmers, a snood and a woolly hat. In addition, he has his tracksuit jacket tucked into his shorts. Gloves complete the ensemble.

Raphinha (C) walks alongside Rodrigo Moreno (L) and in front of Diego Llorente (R) as the trio prepare for outdoor Leeds United training (LUTV)

U23s involved

Within Bielsa's group to face Aston Villa at the weekend, there appear to be a handful of U23 players, including Leo Hjelde, Joe Gelhardt and Lewis Bate.

Stuart McKinstry is also pictured with the first-team bunch, going through training drills with the rest of the squad, indicating he will join the travelling contingent down to Villa Park this week.

Rondo groups

Leeds' rondo groups are particularly interesting given the personnel contained within each circle of players. In one group pictured at Thorp Arch, there appear to be the senior members of the squad and regular starters.

Leeds United players (L to R) Daniel James, Luke Ayling, Pascal Struijk, Raphinha and Mateusz Klich (obstructed) train at Thorp Arch, February 8, 2022 (LUTV)

Mateusz Klich, Stuart Dallas, Daniel James, Rodrigo, Pascal Struijk, Luke Ayling and Raphinha are all pictured taking part in the same drill.

Meanwhile in the other, each of the U23s named above and players returning from injury such as Adam Forshaw and Jamie Shackleton are involved together.

This suggests the coaching staff have perhaps separated the groups for this particular exercise into starters and substitutes ahead of tomorrow's fixture with the Villans.

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