Halme is in contention to start for Leeds against Bristol City.
Marcelo Bielsa was quoted by Leeds Live as saying on Thursday afternoon in his pre-Bristol City press conference that Leeds United defender Pontus Jansson will not feature against The Robins on Saturday – and that Aapo Halme may replace him.
Jansson, 27, missed the international break fixtures with Sweden and Bielsa confirmed that Saturday seems too soon for the colossal defender. It leaves Bielsa with just one, recognised central defender.
That is captain Liam Cooper, but the former Chesterfield man requires a partner and Bielsa stated that either midfielder Kalvin Phillips could drop in – or 20-year-old Finland youth international Halme could replace Jansson.
“Until yesterday we thought he’d be available but now the game is closer I don’t have the same optimism. He didn’t train with the group. Phillips can play centre-back. Halme is another opportunity. These are the two opportunities,” Bielsa was quoted as saying by Leeds Live.
It means that Bielsa sees Halme as a first-team option, but the Argentine’s choice to mention the 6ft 5in defender suggests just how much Conor Shaughnessy has plummeted down the pecking order.
Shaughnessy, 22, has caps for Ireland’s Under-21 side but after being hooked at half-time in the Carabao Cup match against Preston, the defender has not featured for Bielsa’s side.
Instead, he has partnered Pascal Struijk or Halme in the club’s reserve side. But with Halme being mentioned ahead of the central defender, it shows that the Irishman is simply not in Bielsa’s thought process.
Shaughnessy broke into the Leeds side under Thomas Christiansen, and has since made 15 appearances for the senior side. But with Bielsa preferring Halme, Shaughnessy will be wondering if he has any future at Elland Road.
With the January transfer window approaching, the versatile star may be tempted to leave Leeds on loan.
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