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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Leeds’ summer involved little amounts of money. Instead of exploiting the market for permanent signatures, they sought to make use of loan deals.
They did so brilliantly, welcoming Eddie Nketiah on deadline day as well as bringing in Ben White who has looked impressive so far this season, winning 2.5 aerial duels per match, as well as making three tackles on average.
A total of six loans were brought in during the course of the transfer window but only five of those are allowed in a single matchday squad.
Nketiah was the man who missed out against Nottingham Forest but scored against Salford so could be on the substitutes bench.
Marcelo Bielsa has confirmed that his side will be exactly the same but he does have a potential dilemma on the cards.
The Argentine said that having to leave one out wasn’t a problem but it may be a headache if he forgets about the rule, joking with reporters during his press conference ahead of the game with Wigan.
Yet, it could well prove to be an issue soon. On Saturday, he faces the prospect of dropping someone and on evidence seen so far, it must be Jack Clarke.
The fact they sold him to Tottenham only to bring him back would all feel rather pointless if that was the eventuality Bielsa came to, but it’s not unreasonable to suggest he needs to be left out.
Clarke is a promising individual and that’s evident from the fact Spurs invested in him but he’s not shown too much sign of progression of 2019/20.
Illan Meslier was clearly brought in to be back-up to Kiko Casilla so it would be strange to leave him out whilst suddenly dropping White wouldn’t make sense.
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Jack Harrison was poor against Forest, being dispossessed three times but scored against Bristol City whilst Helder Costa and Nketiah were involved in goals against Salford.
And there you have your five loan players. Clarke struggled to make a similar impact to Costa in midweek and on what was likely to be a rare chance for him in the first half of the campaign, looked unconvincing.
Leeds appear stacked in a wide area with Pablo Hernandez continuing in that role, so the fix for Bielsa at the moment is to drop the 18-year-old entirely.
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