Here are the Leeds United evening headlines for Thursday, November 19.
Former Norway international tips Haaland to play for Leeds
Jan Aage Fjortoft believes that Leeds fans may one day get their wish of seeing Erling Haaland in a Whites shirt - although not in the coming years.
The 20-year-old Borussia Dortmund striker, who was born in Leeds whilst his father Alf-Inge Haaland represented United, is among the most in-demand youngsters in world football.
Haaland has scored 27 goals in 29 appearances for the Bundesliga giants since signing for them in January, and has been already been tipped to join the biggest clubs in Europe.
“It’s anyone’s guess, I think, where he will end up. I think that he will never retire before he has played in England,” Fjortoft told the Here We Go podcast.
“He was born in England. Not for [Manchester] United, but for Leeds United – his dad [played] for Leeds United. But I can’t see that [in] the short term that he’s going there.”
Wright questions Bielsa’s tactical approach
Arsenal legend Ian Wright believes that Leeds will struggle to execute their gameplan if Kalvin Phillips isn’t fit enough to make his return against the Gunners on Sunday.
The former striker, who scored 185 goals in 288 appearances for the Gunners, praised Marcelo Bielsa for the way Leeds played in their 1-0 FA Cup defeat in January, but questioned the absence of a Plan B.
Phillips was sidelined in the successive 4-1 defeats to Leicester City and Crystal Palace, but has hinted he may be available for Arsenal on Sunday.
“Did you see when Leeds came and played us in the FA Cup?” Wright said, speaking on the Wrighty’s House podcast.
“They gave us a chasing bro. Oh my God, it was a joy to watch what they did to my team! But what you see is how reliant it is on every single player doing their exact specific jobs.
“You look at Kalvin Phillips missing, they lost 4-1 only because nobody else can play the role that he plays. He doesn’t have a plan B. We know exactly what Bielsa is going to do. He’s not going to come and say ‘they’ve changed’, there’s nothing to work out.”
Leeds' Dallas bargain
Leeds utility man Stuart Dallas ’ 200th appearance underlines the brilliant business the club did when signing him from Brentford, writes Joe Donnohue .
The Northern Ireland international has staked a claim as Bielsa’s first-choice option at left-back, but proved a pivotal player for the Argentinian tactician, able to slot in a number of different positions.
Dallas is set to hit the milestone when Leeds host Arsenal on Sunday. It cost Leeds in the region of just £1million to bring him to the club from Brentford back in 2015.
His performances have earned him cult hero status among the fanbase, and even the nickname of “Cookstown Cafu”. He’s started every Premier League match so far this season, and starting 45 of 46 Championship matches of the promotion-winning campaign last term.
