Whelan tips Leeds player for rare start v Arsenal as Shackleton injury confirmed
Noel Whelan has tipped Marcelo Bielsa to hand Robin Koch his first start for Leeds United since August against Arsenal on Saturday.
The former Leeds striker and club ambassador, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested the German could replace the injured Jamie Shackleton, with Luke Ayling moving to right-back.
As confirmed on Thursday (16 December), Shackleton is out of action with the injury suffered against Manchester City in midweek.
However, Marcelo Bielsa revealed Koch, 25, is back in contention after recovering from a hip injury.
As revealed by Football Insider on Friday (17 December), Leeds’ squad has been decimated by injuries, with just eight first-team players able to train.
With options limited, Whelan suggested Koch could make an immediate return to the starting XI.
Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “If Robin Koch’s fit, I think he comes straight in. That’s a no-brainer for me.
“To get Koch in there to play alongside Llorente, they’re two internationals. We haven’t seen them play very often together. Then you get Ayling back to his normal side.
“Get him back to that right-hand side where we love to see him raiding up and down, box to box. Then put that energy of Stuart Dallas into that central midfield area.
“I would love to see that happen tomorrow. There are many options that we can go for at right-back but there’s nothing better than putting people in their natural position.
“Yes, it’s not ideal Koch’s just coming back but sometimes you’ve got to be thrown in at the deep end.
“We can’t really afford to not have an international out there on the field.”
Koch’s one and only appearance this season came on the opening day of the season against Manchester United.
Injuries mean he has played just 18 times for the Whites since joining last summer.
In other news, Football Insider injury expert reveals when Patrick Bamford will be back for Leeds United.