Jesse Marsch admits that Adam Forshaw is ‘close’ to full fitness and in line to start during Leeds United’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa on Thursday, speaking to Leeds Live.
At times, Marcelo Bielsa would have been forgiven for wondering if Elland Road was built on an ancient Indian burial ground. Perhaps he felt like he’d walked under 13 ladders on his way into Thorpe Arch, stepping on more mirrors than you’ll find in an Ikea sale.
Liam Cooper, Kalvin Phillips and Patrick Bamford – the spine of Bielsa’s side – have started just 32 Premier League games between them this season after all. But it seems the curse is lifting at last.
Tomorrow’s meeting with Aston Villa will come too soon for Cooper and Phillips but Marsch plans to have both back after the international break.
Bamford, meanwhile, will step onto the Elland Road turf for the first time since scoring a dramatic last-gasp equaliser against Brentford in December.
The England international is not the only absentee suddenly available again. Diego Llorente is back after missing last week’s 1-0 defeat to Leicester City.
Who will feature for Leeds vs Leicester?
“They’re both possibilities from the start (Llorente and Forshaw),” explains the former Red Bull Salzburg coach.
“And certainly close to 100 per cent (fitness). Forshaw told me he hasn’t felt this good in weeks. Diego has been in full training today.”
Marsch is certainly a fan of Leeds’ 30-year-old midfielder. Forshaw was described as a ‘fantastic’ talent by the new boss during his introductory press conference last week.
His energy, discipline and tactical intelligence could prove invaluable in the heat of a relegation battle too, particularly as Marsch looks to instil a more controlled, organised gameplan, one similar to Bielsa’s but with a more defensive frame of mind.
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