Preston boss Alex Neil comments on Leeds striker and Marcelo Bielsa

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Leeds play host to Preston on Tuesday night in the Carabao Cup.

Preston North End manager Alex Neil has told his club’s official website that seeing Patrick Bamford on Leeds United’s substitute bench proves just how much quality the Whites have under Marcelo Bielsa.

Leeds play host to Preston at Elland Road on Tuesday night in the second round of the Carabao Cup, after beating Bolton Wanderers in the first round to reach the second group of sides.

Argentine manager Bielsa is expected to make changes to his side in order to keep his first-team players fresh, as they continue to make an explosive start to life in the Championship with four wins and a draw from five outings.

Neil showed a degree of envy in that if you can afford to bench a new £9million signing like Bamford, then it shows just how good your squad is. He is also a big fan of Bielsa’s style of play, applauding the work done by the ex-Lazio boss.

“To go and spend £9m on Patrick Bamford and then have the luxury of having him on the bench, shows how well they are doing and how strong their squad is,” Neil said.

“Leeds have had a good squad for a number of years; at the moment the coach seems to be getting more out of them than what has happened over the past couple of seasons.

“But having said that, I watched Leeds last season at Bolton and they beat them comfortably and they went top of the league in what I think was late October.”

Bamford, 24, is expected to be given just his second start with Bielsa likely to make changes, which could also see fellow new signings Jamal Blackman, Jack Harrison and Lewis Baker start.

Leeds have blown away their opposition with five wins and a draw in Bielsa’s six matches, earning wins over Stoke City, Derby County, Rotherham United, Bolton Wanderers and then Norwich City on Saturday at Carrow Road.

A strong 2-2 draw against Swansea with a makeshift back four sees Leeds sit at the top of the table level on points with Tony Pulis’ Middlesbrough. They will be looking to progress into the third round of the cup with a win on Tuesday night.