Report explains Jamal Blackman’s absence from Leeds’ friendlies

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Leeds United fans are yet to see Jamal Blackman make his debut for the club following his loan switch to Elland Road.

Across all three of Leeds’ pre-season friendlies, there has arguably been one player within Marcelo Bielsa’s squad whose absence has been particularly noticeable, with summer signing Jamal Blackman yet to feature for the Whites since completing his loan move. And the Yorkshire Evening Post has explained the reason that the goalkeeper is still awaiting his debut for the club.

Blackman became the club’s second and most recent addition to the first-team this summer, with his loan move to Elland Road getting across the line before Leeds kicked off the Bielsa era away at Forest Green Rovers.

However, the 24-year-old did not feature against the League Two side, or in the subsequent games against York City or Southend, with the likes of Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Kamil Miazek and Will Huffer getting the chance to impress the new head coach.

The Leeds fans may have been slightly concerned regarding Blackman’s situation, but the Yorkshire Evening Post have explained that the former Sheffield United loanee is not injured. Instead, the Whites feel that Blackman needs to work on his match sharpness with his arrival coming several weeks into the summer.

It will probably be a relief that Blackman has not sustained an injury in the same way that Tyler Roberts did in training after his January move. Roberts missed the rest of the season and only made his Leeds debut in Sunday’s draw at Roots Hall.

However, it may surprise some that Bielsa is not ready to hand Blackman a chance in the side. Of all of the players, the goalkeeper arguably needs the least preparation when it comes to fitness, and playing him in at least one of the games would have only improved that sharpness.

And it is perhaps a slightly concerning sign considering that Leeds supporters will desperately be hoping that a cluster of new signings will arrive imminently.

If they do manage to get the new signings in and Bielsa takes a similarly-cautious approach, those players – as well as Pontus Jansson – may perhaps be in danger of missing the start of the season. Though Bielsa would probably argue that his method will ultimately have the most beneficial outcome in the long run.