Pontus Jansson has started just one Championship game for Leeds United since Marcelo Bielsa arrived at Elland Road.
Everything had been going swimmingly for Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United. But the Elland Road boss faces perhaps the first major test of his tenure after the international break.
Big-money summer signing Patrick Bamford has been ruled out for the next four months with ligament damage, leaving Leeds short of options up top. And the versatile and valuable Gaetano Berardi is also set for a spell on the sidelines.
The Swiss full-back has thrived in a new centre-half role under Bielsa but limped off late on against Middlesbrough and, according to TEAMtalk, he could miss the next five games.
On the other hand, however, what an opportunity this is for fan favourite Pontus Jansson to finally win over his new boss.
Since returning from the World Cup, the Sweden international has started just one of six Championship games. And, in an interview with Fotbollskanalen, Jansson admitted that he has barely spoken to Bielsa and very nearly left for Russian side Krasnodar in the summer.
Berardi’s injury, however, opens up a space in the XI for the commanding, aggressive Jansson. Although Berardi has taken like a duck to water to his new role, Jansson is a natural centre-back who would give Leeds far more strength and power at either end of the pitch.
An away trip to Millwall on Saturday, however, is something of a baptism of fire.
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