Mills tips big role for Leeds kids after two more injury blows
Danny Mills has suggested Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa may have to rely on academy players after Ian Poveda and Rodrigo Moreno suffered injuries.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Whites and England defender delivered his verdict after the attacking pair were ruled out for weeks rather than days by Bielsa.
Both players missed the Yorkshire giants 2-1 loss to Everton in midweek and the Argentine confirmed in his press conference ahead of the visit of Crystal Palace that they will not return on Monday night.
They join the likes of long-term absentees Robin Koch and Diego Llorente on the sidelines.
Club record signing Rodrigo limped off with a groin injury in Leeds’ 3-1 win over Leicester City last weekend while Poveda has suffered an ankle injury.
“We’re starting to see Rodrigo play regularly now and he’s shown he’s got real quality and a good work ethic to go with that,” Mills told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“In these current times and in football in general players get injured, players get suspended. You’ve got to deal with that. It’s part and parcel of football and why you have a 25 man squad and academy players coming through to fill in from time to time.
“It’s getting that balance right between having quality on the bench and in the squad as opposed to not having it there. Leeds have got the balance pretty much right for their first season in the Premier League.”
Academy players Charlie Cresswell, Leif Davis, Jack Jenkins, Jamie Shackleton and Niall Huggins were all named on the bench against Everton on Wednesday night.
The quintet have featured in 11 Premier League games between them this season with midfielder Shackleton leading the way with nine appearances.
In other news, Liverpool have set their sights on a Leeds United player who has “blown away” their scouts.