In a 20-minute cameo against Arsenal, Rodrigo reminded Leeds United what they had been missing in their past two games.
The Spaniard had been absent from the back-to-back 4-1 defeats to Leicester City and Crystal Palace prior to the international break after testing positive for Covid-19, but returned to the bench for Sunday's clash against the Gunners.
With Mikel Arteta's side holding firm despite having been reduced to ten-men when Nicolas Pepe's 51st-minute red card, Marcelo Bielsa summoned Leeds' record signing from the bench in an attempt to unlock the Gunners defence with 20 minutes remaining.
Rodrigo wasted no time in having an impact and would hit the woodwork twice, but his side were unable to convert one of their 25 chances on goal and had to settle for a point.
Following the match Bielsa was asked about Rodrigo's fitness and his decision to start the Spaniard from the bench.
"When he left the team he was growing in the team," the Leeds head coach said.
"Every game he was playing better and the rhythm of competition, you don’t obtain this quickly. It took him a few games to get him to the level he was at against Aston Villa. And I think that he needs a progression of a different amount of minutes to get back the level he was prior."
And it would appear that Bielsa is wasting little time in getting those minutes in, as the 29-year-old is starting for the under-23s who are taking on West Bromwich Albion at Thorp Arch, less than 24 hours after the Arsenal match.
Kiko Casilla and Ian Poveda are also starting against the Baggies, with fellow first-teamers Helder Costa, Pascal Struijk and Tyler Roberts on the bench.
