LEEDS QUARTET TO MISS DOUBLE HEADER
The Leeds United quartet of Patrick Bamford, Leo Hjelde, Liam Cooper and Kalvin Philips will miss the upcoming double headerin the Premier League as new manager Jesse Marsch begins his reign at the club.
Ex-Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig manager Marsch has been saddled with the responsibility of leading Leeds United away from the relegation zone after he replaced the sacked Marcelo Bielsa earlier this week. The dismissal of Bielsa as the Leeds United manager was confirmed on Sunday having led the Whites to a 4-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the league the previous day.
Bielsaspent three-and-a-half years at Leeds United which represents the longest managerial spell of his career. He was the man behind Leeds United as they gained promotion to the Premier League after almost two decades of absence from the competition.
American manager Marsch has a lot of work to do if he wants to emulate the achievements of his Argentine counterpart at Elland Road starting with the double header over the next five days. Marsch will take Leeds United to face Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Saturday lunchtime before he takes charge of his first game at home when Aston Villa visit in a rescheduled league game four days later.
The Leicester City and Aston Villa games will give Marsch the opportunity to win some points on the board with Leeds United two points and two places above the relegation zone. Leeds United drew one and lost five of their last six league games under Bielsathus leaving them in a relegation battle.
Leeds United skipper Cooper will miss the Leicester City and Aston Villa games due to a thigh injury, but he’s expected to return to action in the next twoweeks having missed several months as a result of the injury. Leeds United midfielder Philips is in a similar situation as Cooper as he has also been out for a long time. Philips could also return in two weeks.
For Hjelde, the young Englishman has a knee injury that will force him to watch the Leicester City and Aston Villa games on the sidelines. On his part, star striker Patrick Bamford is also injured with an ankle problem.