Marcelo Bielsa has stressed the importance of ensuring new signing Jean-Kevin Augustin goes through an adaptation period at Leeds United.
The club moved to sign the 22-year-old striker from RB Leigzig on Monday as Bielsa was able to bring in a replacement for Eddie Nketiah who was recalled by his parent club Arsenal at the start of the window.
Augustin saw a loan spell of his own at Ligue 1 side Monaco cut short, with the former France youth international turning out 13 times so far this season.
He was registered in time to eligible for Leeds' Tuesday night win over Millwall, but Bielsa did not include him in his matchday squad, although the striker was present at Elland Road to get a taste of the atmosphere.
Next up for Leeds is another home match, this time against struggling Wigan on Saturday, but Bielsa moved to dampen expectations that Leeds' new number 29 could feature.
"It’s too soon to evaluate that," said Bielsa when asked how Augustin was settling in. "Also it’s natural the process of adaptation of one player is not going to be short. For our last experience we had, always it’s a process that lasts more than one month."
Augustin last played on January 20, turning out for all 90 minutes of Monaco's 3-1 Coupe de France win over St-Pryve St-Hilaire, with Bielsa insisting his newest signing is in good physical condition.
"He has played a few days ago, he’s a player well trained. He has good physical condition, natural. Very good, but when you have to adapt to one team it depends on more than that - other factors."
Another factor will be the form of Patrick Bamford, who netted twice on Tuesday night to end a recent dry spell, with Bielsa also addressing the issue of whether the two forwards could both play together.
"Nketiah and Bamford played together. You ask me for one situation we did before. They can play together. What I cannot say is if this will happen again."
Leeds host Wigan on Saturday at 3pm.
