Marcelo Bielsa's press conference heading into Leeds United's hugely important match with Burnley at the weekend featured bad news on the length of absences for two of the Whites' most important players. However, encouragingly, it also featured news of a number of returns for Sunday's match.
The Argentine stated that Junior Firpo, Diego Llorente, Daniel James, Jack Harrison would all return, whilst saying that Patrick Bamford was 'healthy' but stressing that his absence has been four weeks long. This suggest that the four players mentioned initially are ready to start the game, whilst Bamford will more likely be kept on the bench and used if necessary.
Leeds will be in a much healthier state for this game than they were when facing Manchester City and Arsenal, however, there are still a number of players still to return who won't be ready for Sunday.
Leeds Live has the rundown of the players Bielsa is unable to call on:
Kalvin Phillips
The Yorkshire Pirlo is not expected to return until March, according to Bielsa. He was forced off the field with a hamstring injury against Brentford and the injury required surgery, which he has been recovering from.
Liam Cooper
Leeds' captain is also not expected to return until March. Like Phillips, Cooper suffered a hamstring injury but no surgery has been confirmed for the Scottish international. The fact that his recovery time is the same perhaps suggests that he also had to go under the knife though.
Jamie Shackleton
Shackleton has already played more minutes in the Premier League this season than he managed last season but he has still had injury troubles. He left the field injured against Manchester City recently and Bielsa confirmed that he would not be available until February.
Charlie Cresswell
The young centre-back dislocated his shoulder in a freak training accident before Leeds faced Arsenal. He is also expected to return in the second month of the year.
Rodrigo
Rodrigo has been missing for a number of games with a heel injury and he was not included in the list of players which Bielsa said would be returning.
Pascal Struijk
Like Rodrigo, Struijk was not mentioned in the list of players returning. Bielsa has regularly said that he was close to fitness but has had pain in his foot which has stopped him competing in full contact training and therefore matches. As he was not mentioned, the presumption is that this pain still persists.
