Marcelo Bielsa may well need to reshuffle his options ahead of Leeds’ clash with Bristol City this weekend. Pontus Jansson is now a doubt for the game – and that potentially leaves us with a major problem.
If Jansson is not ready, Liam Cooper will be the only fit centre-back in the senior squad available to Bielsa.
Bielsa could promote one of the under-23 stars. But many will be expecting Kalvin Phillips to play alongside Cooper on Saturday.
Phillips is regularly dropping into defence from holding midfield. So the transition may not be too difficult for the academy graduate.
Of course, that means that Bielsa then has to consider who replaces the player who is arguably more important to the balance of the team than any other member of the squad.
If Phillips is deployed at centre-back, it would be little surprise to see Adam Forshaw, Mateusz Klich and Samuel Saiz occupy those three spots in the middle of the park.
And if that happens, then perhaps Lewis Baker has a fantastic chance of securing a rare opportunity.
Baker was Bielsa’s first signing in the summer. But the Chelsea man has not played since early October and is still awaiting his first Championship start with Leeds.
He is unlikely to start on Saturday. But Phillips dropping deeper probably makes Baker the obvious candidate to come in if a change is required in midfield during the game.
The 23-year-old may not get a significant stint on the pitch. But given how his loan spell has gone so far, he surely cannot afford to allow any opportunity that comes his way slip through his grasp.