‘Won’t be available’: Bielsa says Leeds man definitely won’t play on Friday evening

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Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa has told Leeds Live that Diego Llorente won’t make his debut against Aston Villa on Friday.

Llorente joined Leeds in the summer to provide competition for places at centre-back, but he has not been able to prove his worth yet.

The experienced defender picked up an injury while away on international duty.

And any hopes Leeds had about Llorente making a swift return have been ruled out by Bielsa.

“He won’t be available for this Friday’s game,” Bielsa said.

If Llorente had been fit then he would have stood a strong chance of being selected to start for Leeds.

The Whites options at centre-back are currently limited, with Liam Cooper also potentially sidelined.

Robin Koch and Pascal Struijk look the most likely pairing to start in the heart of defence if Cooper doesn’t make it back in time.

The duo were solid in Leeds’ most recent fixture against Wolves, but could not stop the Yorkshire side falling to a 1-0 defeat.