Marcelo Bielsa provides fitness update on Leeds squad – including Rodrigo – ahead of Aston Villa

Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa has provided a fitness update on his squad, ahead of the club’s upcoming meeting with Aston Villa.

Leeds host Villa

The Peacocks are set to return to Premier League action on Saturday evening, in a meeting with Dean Smith’s men at Elland Road.

Leeds will head into proceedings with their tails up, on the back of a much-needed 3-point haul last time out.

On the back of a pair of successive defeats, at the hands of Arsenal and Wolves, Bielsa and co. got things back on track courtesy of a 3-0 drubbing of Southampton.

Aston Villa, on the other hand, have managed just a solitary victory from their last four in the English top-flight, leaving the Claret and Blue just a solitary point clear of their upcoming hosts in the Premier League table as things stand (albeit with two games in hand).

Phillips ruled out

As such, a tightly contested affair is widely predicted at Elland Road in 48 hours’ time.

Visitors Villa are of course expected to be without star man Jack Grealish for the encounter, after the English international picked up a fitness issue in training last week.

Leeds, though, will also be unable to call on a number of key performers.

Speaking in a press conference this afternoon, Marcelo Bielsa was asked for an update on the status of his squad.

And the Argentine first went on to confirm that both Kalvin Phillips and Rodrigo are set to miss out once again this weekend. When pressed further on the former’s situation, Bielsa explained:

‘His injury is in his calf. It’s a place where we have to avoid that he has a recurrence because the recurrence makes the situation worse. So we’re being very cautious so that when he returns, he returns for definite.’

Also set to play no part versus Villa, meanwhile, is long-term absentee Robin Koch, whilst Mateusz Klich, who was forced off versus Southampton last time out, remains a doubt:

🗣️ Marcelo Bielsa has ruled Kalvin Phillips and Rodrigo out of Leeds’ match against Aston Villa, while Robin Koch is expected back in the first week of March. Mateusz Klich is “doing pretty well” but Bielsa is unsure about whether he’ll be fit enough for #GW26.#FFScout #FPL pic.twitter.com/8RQgh3X2WB

— Fantasy Football Scout (@FFScout) February 25, 2021

Carlo Ancelotti provides updates on Allan & Dominic Calvert-Lewin and discusses his Everton future

Why Fulham vs Newcastle might aide fans’ return to stadia before May 17

This article was edited by Robert Fosterman.

Source: 101greatgoals.com