Leeds United team news for Newcastle United game as Marcelo Bielsa issues updates on Illan Meslier, Gaetaon Berardi and Adam Forshaw
Leeds United have gone nine days without a game, ahead of tomorrow's trip to St James' Park, allowing the French goalkeeper to recover from Covid-19 having missed the Elland Road defeat to Brighton.
Bielsa says he has no fresh injury concerns as the Whites prepare to take on a Magpies side who have gone 10 games without victory.
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Hide Ad"Meslier has resolved his health issues," said the Argentine.
"There is no new news. [Robin] Koch and [Gaetano] Berardi still remain out."
But there is some good news on the horizon for the Whites. Berardi, who suffered a serious knee injury late last season against Derby County and needed surgery, will soon be back in training.
"Gaetano Berardi will start to train with the group shortly," said Bielsa.
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Hide Ad"Whilst he had a serious knee injury that kept him out for a long time, many players have had this injury and come back to play."
Fellow long term injury victim Adam Forshaw will have to wait a little longer to rejoin the group at Thorp Arch, however. But Bielsa is still optimistic about the midfielder's prospects of playing again for Leeds.
"The problem with Forshaw is a little longer," said the head coach.
"He hasn't played for over a year now. The medical decisions taken recently let us think he will play again in the not too distant future. Forshaw is a professional who looks after his health very much. That's why I think as soon as his injury problems are resolved he will be able to compete very quickly."
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Hide AdBielsa is content that the Whites have been able to manage their injury problems with solutions found within the squad.
"With regards to Berardi, his injury coincided with the injuries to Koch, Llorente, Cooper and Phillips [but] we've managed to resolve this," he said.
"Forshaw's one has been longer but we've been able to resolve it with Phillips, Dallas, Shackleton and Pascal."
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