Marcelo Bielsa has suggested to Leeds Live that Ian Poveda will not be playing as a number 10 for Leeds United.
Ostensibly Poveda would appear to have the skill set to play in an attacking midfield role.
The Leeds youngster is capable of tight space, a clever dribbler and can make a real impact in the final third.
However, Poveda has only ever played down the wing for Leeds.
And when asked if Poveda could be shifted inside, with Rodrigo only just coming back to fitness, Bielsa quickly batted away the suggestion.
“No, I haven’t thought about him in this position,” Bielsa said.
Poveda’s apparent lack of versatility may be one of the reasons why he has struggled for game time this term.
The Leeds attacker has still not started a Premier League game, with his only action coming as a substitute.
While Poveda has made an impact in some games off the bench, he just hasn’t been able to force his way into Leeds’ starting line-up.
Even with Raphinha and Rodrigo out, Poveda has been overlooked for Leeds starting line-up in recent weeks.
And it most likely that he will be left on the bench again at the weekend, when Leeds take on Brighton & Hove Albion.
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