Leeds United are all but relegated amid ‘huge’ Bamford and Phillips updates -pundit
Jesse Marsch will not keep Leeds United in the Premier League as “the damage might already be done” by the “huge” Patrick Bamford and Kalvin Phillips injuries.
That’s according to former West Ham hitman Frank McAvennie, speaking exclusively to Football Insider after the American’s first game in charge.
On Monday (28 February), Leeds announced the arrival of Marsch on a three-and-a-half-year contract.
Marsch had been out of work since December after RB Leipzig sacked him after just four months in charge.
He lost his first game in charge as Leeds fell top a 1-0 defeat against Leicester on Saturday (5 March).
McAvennie also suggested Marsch’s approach “won’t work”.
“You have seen managers come over from America and it doesn’t work,” McAvennie told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild.
“Aberdeen had a guy for a while, he was from over here but he got Americanised, it didn’t work.
“Listen, he will do his best and he will change the style. The first thing he will have done is tighten up the defence.
“Leeds looked like they didn’t know what they were doing at the end under Bielsa.
“Do I think this guy is going to keep Leeds up? No. I think the injuries will be the deciding factor.
“Phillips and Bamford are huge misses, the damage might already be done and they’re all but relegated.
“I hope they don’t go down, I’ve said that before. There are still games to play so let’s see what this guy can do.”
Leeds are next in action against Aston Villa on Thursday (10 March).
They currently sit two points off the relegation zone though 18th placed Burnley have a game in hand.
In other news, Leeds United and West Ham have been handed a ‘big’ boost in their pursuit of Johnson after Nottingham Forest talks update.