It appears as though the winter break has somewhat helped to ease Leeds United’s recent injury crisis.
The Whites were without up to eight players in their last outing against Newcastle United, however the 17-day gap means Marcelo Bielsa will welcome some fresh faces back into his squad for Wednesday’s trip to Aston Villa.
Adam Forshaw, Jamie Shackleton and Charlie Cresswell are all set to return under the lights at Villa Park, although Wednesday is likely to come too soon for Junior Firpo.
Kalvin Phillips and Liam Cooper are also in the final stages of their recovery, which suggests there could finally be some light at the end of the tunnel in terms of Bielsa’s injury list.
Perhaps the Argentine’s biggest selection headache at Villa Park will be who is given the nod in the number nine position.
Daniel James has started each of the last two league games there, however Joe Gelhardt and Tyler Roberts are now both back to full fitness after bench appearances against Newcastle.
Rodrigo Moreno is also an option in attack and he will be fighting to retain his place in midfield, with Forshaw almost a certainty to come straight back in.
Bielsa is likely to name an unchanged back five from the defeat against the Magpies – meaning Illan Meslier, Luke Ayling, Diego Llorente, Pascal Struijk and Stuart Dallas are set to start.
Alongside the returning Forshaw in midfield, Robin Koch and Mateusz Klich are unlikely to be dropped, leaving the aforementioned Rodrigo, Gelhardt, James and Roberts to fight it out for the position either side of Raphinha and Jack Harrison in the front three.
Using the widget below, choose who you name in the starting XI at Villa Park if you were in Bielsa's shoes.
