Diego Llorente: Leeds handed ‘crucial’ boost after ‘great news’ pre-Tottenham – pundit
Noel Whelan has insisted Diego Llorente’s return to fitness is “crucial” for Leeds United ahead of Saturday’s clash against Tottenham.
The former Leeds striker and club ambassador, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested the 28-year-old could step straight back into the side after missing the 6-0 thrashing at Liverpool.
As confirmed by Marcelo Bielsa on Friday (25 February), Llorente and Robin Koch will both be available after sitting Wednesday’s game out.
Leeds started with Luke Ayling and Pascal Struijk as the centre-back pairing at Anfield.
Whelan suggested Llorente’s return would bring some much-needed balance to the side.
Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “It’s great news. He is one of our better defenders, there’s no doubt about that.
“He’s competitive in the air, very good on the ball. Yes, against Manchester United he got himself all tangled up against Harry Maguire. I’m not sure what he was thinking.
“He’s looking at the player and then in the end, he had no idea where the player or the ball was. He’s one of these players that we know is a top-quality international.
“He’ll be one of the first ones saying he needs to do better. Llorente will look back on that and say: ‘That’s not me. That’s not how I defend.’
“You can move Ayling back to right-back, put Llorente back in there with Struijk and Firpo on the left. That leaves Dallas in that midfield area for that energy that we like to see from him.
“I think this is crucial. People are playing in their natural habitat. We’re not putting square pegs in round holes, so to speak.
“I think it’s important. It’s a big game. Pieces in the right places usually gives you a better outcome at the end of 90 minutes.”
Llorente has started 18 times in the Premier League this season.
However, he came off at half-time against Manchester United.
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