Teenager Tyler Roberts is set to make his long-overdue Leeds United league debut when the Championship leaders travel to face Millwall on Saturday afternoon.
Manager Marcelo Bielsa confirmed in his pre-match press conference that the 19-year-old was his ‘first option’ to start up front, with a number of regular senior players ruled out through injury.
Bielsa on alternatives to Roofe: "The first option we have is Tyler Roberts. We have also other possibilities." #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) September 13, 2018
Kemar Roofe has been superb as the focal point of the Whites’ attack so far this term, netting four times and providing a further two assists in his six outings in the second tier.
However, he has sustained a minor knock to his knee, a problem that rules him out of the trip to The Den, but one about which Bielsa is seemingly not over concerned.
Meanwhile, Gaetano Berardi, Patrick Bamford and Pablo Hernandez are also out of contention, with the latter expected to be sidelined for more than three weeks.
TEAM NEWS: Leeds United’s Tyler Roberts set to start in place of injured Kemar Roofe at Millwall. Gaetano Berardi, Pablo Hernandez & Patrick Bamford all injured. Hernandez out for more than 3 weeks. #lufc
— Adam Pope (@apopey) September 13, 2018
Roberts signed for Leeds from West Bromwich Albion back in January, but injury curtailed his end to the campaign and he only made his competitive bow for the Elland Road outfit in last month’s League Cup triumph over Bolton Wanderers.
The Welshman, who made his first appearance for the national side just last week, spent part of 2017-18 on loan at Walsall, where he managed to find the net five times in 17 League One encounters.
Bielsa’s Leeds have drawn much acclaim for their start to the season, with six wins from their opening six Championship fixtures.
Moreover, the Yorkshire giants have played some hugely impressive football along the way despite only having had the Argentine at the helm since the middle of June.
It remains to be seen, though, how they cope with their current injury problems, particularly given that Roofe and Hernandez have been so instrumental to Leeds’ style going forward.
