Here are the Leeds United evening headlines for Friday, November 20.
Marcelo Bielsa confirms injury news for Arsenal
Kalvin Phillips and Rodrigo Moreno are fit and available to feature in Sunday’s clash with Arsenal, Marcelo Bielsa confirmed in his pre-match press conference.
Phillips was sidelined for United ’s 3-0 victory over Aston Villa and subsequent 4-1 defeats to Leicester City and Crystal Palace after suffering an injury against Wolves last month.
Rodrigo hasn’t featured since the win at Villa Park, having been forced into self-isolation after testing positive for coronavirus.
"It's probable," Bielsa responded when asked if Phillips will start on Sunday. "I can't guarantee it, but it's probable.”
However, Pablo Hernandez is unavailable after suffering a muscular injury, while Jamie Shackleton and Diego Llorente also remain sidelined.
Here’s all the latest injury news in full .
Former Arsenal striker has ‘concerns’ over Illan Meslier
Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith believes that Illan Meslier’s confidence may have suffered a blow after conceding eight goals over United’s last two matches.
Smith, who scored 115 goals in 347 appearances for the Gunners, believes that the 20-year-old Frenchman has looked vulnerable in the heavy defeats suffered against Leicester and Crystal Palace.
“The young lad Illan Meslier is looking a little vulnerable, after having to pick the ball out of the back of the net a few times, so there’s some concerns there,” he said, speaking on the Pitch to Post podcast (via HITC ).
“I think for Leeds to lose their last two 4-1 would cause some alarm bells, particularly the defeat at Palace. They are leaking goals.”
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink questions Patrick Bamford’s England credentials
Former Leeds striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has praised Patrick Bamford for his performances in the Premier League this season, but played down the prospect of a first England call-up .
Hasselbaink, who scored 34 goals in 69 Premier League appearances for the Whites in the late 90s, believes the club’s current number nine needs to maintain this spell of form for a more sustained period before he can factor into Gareth Southgate’s thinking.
"Bamford is having a great season and I'm really happy for him because last year he had a lot of trouble putting that ball in the net - he needed a lot of chances,” said Hasselbaink, who was speaking exclusively to Ladbrokes at its launch of the 5-A-Side Bet on Leeds v Arsenal.
"But he's doing really well on the big stage and I think it's just a confidence thing. Sometimes it's as simple as your first goal going in and you suddenly forget about everything.
"He was gifted a goal at Liverpool and from there he hasn't looked back.
"Can he make the England squad? I don't know. After Harry Kane you've got Dominic Calvert-Lewin who has improved significantly, you can see that.
"It's difficult for me to say 'Patrick Bamford should be in the England squad' because I think it's too early in the season.
"He's doing really well, don't get me wrong but he's only played eight games.
"If playing well for eight games gets you into the England squad, then it's not really an honour any more, is it?”
