Tyler Roberts has led the line in Leeds United’s last three Championship games with Kemar Roofe out injured.
Leeds look set to receive their first of many injury boosts in the coming weeks and months, with Marcelo Bielsa suggesting, in comments reported by Leeds Live, that Kemar Roofe is close to returning for the Whites after several weeks on the sidelines.
Bielsa did not put a time frame on Roofe’s return, but it appears that he is expected to be the first of the injured players to come back into the fold.
Presumably, Friday’s game against Sheffield Wednesday will come too soon, but Tuesday’s trip to Hull may be the fixture that Roofe has his eye on. And for many, that could be a huge boost given Roofe’s start to the season.
But for Tyler Roberts, Roofe’s seemingly-imminent return could put some pressure on the forward. Roberts has led the line in Leeds’ last three games, and arguably endured a mixed time, having struggled to make an impact against Millwall and Birmingham City.
He was, however, inspired in the 3-0 win over Preston North End, scoring twice with a couple of superb finishes. It was a performance that he desperately needed after such a difficult start to life with Leeds, and it is perhaps now a performance that he desperately needs to replicate against the Owls on Friday night.
Roofe will almost definitely return to the top of the pecking order once he is fully fit. But one attribute that Bielsa has shown in abundance since arriving at Elland Road is loyalty to his players, and that really presents Roberts with an opportunity to keep the shirt once his teammate comes back.
But with Roofe seemingly closing in on a return, Roberts could perhaps find himself in a situation that means that his performance against Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow decides what role he plays over the next few weeks.
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