The Leeds United defender was not due back until February.
The Leeds United defender, Gateano Berardi, could return to contention earlier than expected, according to his manager.
Berardi has been out since late October with a hamstring injury, and was not due to return until February at the earliest.
But the Swiss is in line to make his comeback against Rotherham United next Saturday, provided he comes through Monday’s Under-23 team fixture against Southampton at Tadcaster Albion.
Speaking via the Yorkshire Evening Post at his pre-Stoke City press conference on Thursday, the Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa revealed: “Berardi will play next Monday and if everything goes well he will be in the group for the next game [against Rotherham].”
And there is encouraging news, too, regarding Leeds’ other missing men.
“[Stuart] Dallas started the training sessions with the group today and [Barry] Douglas will do the same tomorrow,” added Bielsa. “They won’t play next Monday but they will play the next under-23s games and if everything goes well they will be in the team.
“It will be the same for [Patrick] Bamford but maybe he will need a bit more time, so these three players will be available in the next ten days. Also, Kalvin Phillips will come back [against Rotherham] as he has been suspended for three games and we solved the injury of Jamal Blackman with the signing of [Kiko] Casilla.”
Berardi has only played eight times for Leeds this season, and his return strengthens an area in which Bielsa’s side have been left worrying light at times.
Phillips, a central midfielder by trade, and Aapo Halme, the inexperienced Finnish centre-back, have deputised occasionally in the absence of Berardi, Liam Cooper and Pontus Jansson.
How big a boost will Berardi’s return be for Leeds?
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