Liam Cooper's body and Pascal Struijk's mind in good shape for Leeds United v Leicester City game

Cooper missed the matches against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa with an abductor injury picked up on international duty with Scotland. In his absence, Struijk partnered Robin Koch against Wolves, and Luke Ayling moved to centre-back when the Belgian went into midfield at Villa Park.

Neither game went particularly well for 21-year-old Strujik. His slip in part led to the only goal against Wolves – although in fairness to him, there were other opportunities to close goalscorer Raul Jimenez down after that – and he was substituted 21 minutes into the 3-0 win at Villa having already picked up a yellow card and been fortunate not to get another after conceding a foul.

Being brought off so early in a match can be humiliating but Bielsa, who must now choose between Struijk and his replacement on the night Jamie Shackleton for the holding midfield role on Monday, has been happy with the response.

“He reacted in a normal manner and I gave an explanation to him and the whole team,” he said of Struijk.

Of his centre-back options for the game against Jamie Vardy's Leicester, Bielsa said: “Cooper is fine now but (Diego) Llorente won't be fit for this weekend.

“He's at a very good level but I haven't picked the XI yet. Being able to count on him is something very good.”

Bielsa was playing his cards close to his chest throughout the press conference, and could give no timescale on how long summer signing Llorente or England midfielder Kalvin Phillips will be out through injury.

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