Whelan predicts Leeds starting XI v Palace tonight after Hernandez latest
Noel Whelan has tipped Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa to name an unchanged eleven tonight with Pablo Hernandez “out of favour” at Elland Road.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Whites and Coventry striker said that the 35-year-old is “far down the pecking order” after a disappointing substitute appearance against Everton in midweek.
Hernandez has played just 11 times for Leeds this season and he has only started two Premier League fixtures.
The Spanish playmaker could be seen as a like-for-like replacement for Rodrigo Moreno – the club-record signing is sidelined for “weeks” with a groin injury suffered against Leicester earlier this month.
Mateusz Klich started in Rodrigo’s absence against the Toffees, but he struggled to impact the game as Marcelo Bielsa’s side were beaten 2-1 at Elland Road.
When asked if he expected Klich to retain his starting spot against Crystal Palace tonight, Whelan told Football Insider:
“I very much doubt Marcelo Bielsa will make any changes tonight, even though we lost to Everton.
“Hernandez has fallen out of favour at the minute. He is not even the first port of call in regards to substitutions.
“He did not do that much when he came on against Everton, to be honest. He was busy on the ball but he did not really standout. It was not the game-changing impact you want from one of your substitutes.
“Hernandez is far down the pecking order at the minute so I think it will be Klich alongside Stuart Dallas and Kalvin Phillips again. I cannot see any changes from Marcelo Bielsa tonight.”
In other news, a well-connected Leeds United pundit has detailed how long Rodrigo is expected to be sidelined for after Marcelo Bielsa update.