Marcelo Bielsa has issued a fresh update on Tyler Roberts's fitness, revealing the forward could have played for Leeds United on New Year's Day, but wasn't risked in the face of their playmaker problems.
The Wales international was a noticeable absentee for his side's 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns, as the Whites kept themselves atop the Championship summit.
Patrick Bamford saw his second-half header deflected in to cancel out the hosts' opener, while Eddie Nketiah played his final game for Leeds following his loan recall by Arsenal.
The exit of the England youth international in part figured into Bielsa's thinking on Roberts, with the Argentine admitting the latter was rested due to the need for healthy cover following Nketiah and Jack Clarke's departures, as well as Pablo Hernandez's injury lay-off.
Roberts presents a versatile option if fit for the United boss, able to figure in various attacking positions, with Patrick Bamford the Whites' only senior forward present in the squad.
"He didn’t feel 100 per cent recovered from the problem in his leg," Bielsa told his post-match press conference. "Maybe he could have participated, but we didn’t want to take this risk.
"We think he’s a choice at centre-forward and also as playmaker. He can play as a winger too. We are going to miss Pablo, Clarke, Nketiah, so we want to protect him."
Leeds could be immediately reunited with Nketiah next week when they travel to Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup.
