Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa has named Pontus Jansson his 'best player in the Championship' and admitted he remains an injury doubt for Wednesday night's second leg play-off semi-final clash against Derby County.
Jansson missed the Leeds United's 1-0 victory at Pride Park on Saturday with an ankle injury.
Speaking to the press ahead of the game, Bielsa said: "Pontus Jansson tomorrow will try and work normally and we will see tomorrow how he is."
At Derby, Jansson's position was covered by Gaetano Berardi and, should Jansson fail to be passed fit in time for the match, it looks likely that Berardi will deputise again.
Asked what he felt that each of the centre backs offered him, Bielsa said: "These players are in two ways interpreting the same role.
"What we see about Jansson is his physical strength. He has a big capacity to express his presence in the game and for Berardi he has an explosivity which is not frequent for a centre back.
"Jansson has been our best player in the Championship over the season and Berardi has been an indispensable player. And we couldn't count on him when he was absent.
"Both are compatible. We need them and we can rely on them."
Pontus Jansson has made 39 league appearances for Leeds this season, scoring three goals. Berardi has been limited to 14 appearances after missing a significant chunk of the season after rupturing a tendon in his hamstring.
Bielsa has ruled Kemar Roofe, Adam Forshaw and Tyler Roberts out of Wednesday night's game.
