Pundit suggests Bielsa to blame at Leeds after crushing Phillips update
Alan Hutton has questioned whether the Leeds United squad are being worked too hard by Marcelo Bielsa after Kalvin Phillips’ injury blow.
The former Scotland defender, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested the manager may have to assess the “workloads” of his players after another setback.
As reported by the Telegraph (8 December), Phillips is facing two months on the sidelines with a hamstring injury picked up against Brentford.
Liam Cooper and Patrick Bamford are also reportedly doubts after picking up problems in the 2-2 draw.
Bamford, along with Luke Ayling, only returned to the squad for Sunday’s game after their respective injury absences.
Hutton suggested Bielsa’s “extreme” demands could be the reason for the mounting injury problems at Elland Road.
Hutton told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “Bielsa must be tearing his hair out.
“You see Ayling’s back, Bamford’s back and then you lose another important piece. Hopefully, it’s not for long but that just seems to be how their season’s going at the moment.
“It’s like one step forward, two steps back. It must be so annoying for them. We know that they work extremely hard in training, they work extremely hard in games.
“Is that the reason? Is that the problem, that it’s their second season and it’s catching up in a lot of players? I mean, that does happen.
“He’ll have to monitor the loads and their workloads, see if maybe that’s the reason behind it all.”
Phillips missed games against Southampton and Wolves earlier this season due to a calf injury.
The Whites currently sit 15th in the Premier League table.
In other news, Leeds United are preparing fans for Marcelo Bielsa’s exit as a manager shortlist is compiled.