Good evening, Leeds United fans. Here are your evening headlines for Tuesday, November 17.
Former Leeds favourite drops Hernandez hint
Former Leeds United forward Noel Whelan believes ‘something was not right’ between Pablo Hernandez and Marcelo Bielsa.
Hernandez was omitted from the squad for the 4-1 defeat at Crystal Palace after an angry reaction to being replaced by Tyler Roberts during the loss to Leicester City the week prior.
The Spaniard has since apologised for his conduct on Instagram, and now could be set to return to the team for the meeting with Arsenal.
However, Whelan believes the clash was a ‘worrying sign’ and that Hernandez could be set for a spell on the bench as he looks to reintroduce himself to the first-team.
“The million-dollar question is whether Pablo is involved,” he told Football Insider. “I very much doubt anything will come out from what happened. It has been kept indoors by Leeds, and that will continue to be the case, but something was not right there between manager and player.
“If he does not make the squad for the Arsenal game then it is a very worrying sign that there is a bigger rift to be gapped between manager and player.
“We know that Marcelo Bielsa is not a man to be messed with. He is strong in his will and with his decision-making and it does not matter who you are."
Rodrigo delivers major fitness boost
Rodrigo is set to return to the Leeds squad against Arsenal this weekend following his coronavirus isolation.
The former Valencia striker missed the back-to-back 4-1 defeats before the international break due to COVID-19, but has now returned to training at Thorp Arch.
It was confirmed on November 3 the Spanish international had the virus, but he posted a short video from a dressing room at Thorp Arch on Tuesday morning with the caption ‘work’.
Orta outlines why Luis transfer interest was not followed up
Victor Orta has confirmed Leeds opted against signing Florentino Luis because it wouldn’t have ‘benefited’ anybody.
The Portuguese midfielder was strongly linked with a move to Elland Road following the club’s promotion to the Premier League.
Leeds were busy during the transfer market and targeted a number of promising young players, but opted against trying to sign Benfica starlet Luis.
"Yes, we liked him (Luis), but Benfica wanted to loan him out to get minutes," Orta told Record. "And in that position Kalvin Phillips plays, a player of Leeds’ academy. It was an operation from which no-one would benefit.”
Luis eventually joined Monaco on a season-long loan deal.
