Marcelo Bielsa has revealed that the injury picked up by Ryan Edmondson was done in a Leeds United training session where the head-coach admitted to pushing him too hard.
Leeds have struggled in-front of goal recently, with Patrick Bamford’s 12 goals not making great reading when you compare it to how Bielsa’s side dominate games week-on-week.
Jean-Kevin Augustin is yet to have a chance, whilst Eddie Nketiah has returned to Arsenal following a loan spell. Yet, Edmondson hasn’t featured for the first-team this season, with Bielsa reluctant to use him.
The striker, who struck double figures for Leeds’ title-winning under-23 side last season, is now out of action for two months, with Bielsa admitting the knee injury he was carrying became a real problem in a training session where he was pushing him too hard – as per Phil Hay of The Athletic.
Now talking about Edmondson. Says his performances for the Under-23s "were never enough to be considered" for the first team. Then, in his last training session, he was excellent – but injured his knee and needed surgery.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) February 6, 2020
Bielsa on Edmondson's injury – says he pushed him hard in his last training session because he didn't realise that he had a knee problem. Says he pushed Edmondson hard because he was doing so well in that session, and making the impact Bielsa wanted. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) February 6, 2020
And, following this update from the Argentine, a lot of Leeds fans have vented frustration at his handling of the 18-year-old, calling it convenient that he’s now injured when he was on the cusp of the first-team and Bielsa was considering using him.
Here, we look at some of that reaction…
How convenient that now hes injured he was happy with him
— Paul Milner (@paulmilner365) February 6, 2020
Flogging a player until he gets injured, why wasn’t he aware he had a knee problem? It just shows you how hard he drives players
— Aidan Montague (@MontagueAidan) February 6, 2020
But never got near the first team!!!!
— Richard Box 💙💛 (@richardboxy) February 6, 2020
He broke him 😢
— Tom Button (@TomButtonmoon) February 6, 2020
He needs to get out of that nasty habit of making the ball go into the goal.
— DG 🦆 (@ellandduck) February 6, 2020
Oh ffs 🤣
— Tommy Hadfield🇮🇨 (@tinyfield33) February 6, 2020
Rubbish.
— Richard Idle (@Yorkshirelad110) February 6, 2020
Convenient
— Paul Allanson (@PaulAllanson23) February 6, 2020
I thought Mr Bielsa was very fair and truthful.
I have watched every game of the U23’s for several seasons, and Ryan Edmondson is no ready for the first team.
He is 18 years old, and needs to build up his strength to lead the line.
The way Leeds play with a lone striker, it is a difficult job, being marked by two big lumps!!
Mr B is looking to give Ryan another season in the U23’s.
The coaches are working to prepare the younger players for the step up.
15 minutes at the end of a game is totally different from starting.
Mr B also said we have no money to spend, and big Big Kev had been fully fit and firing on all cylinders we would never have got him!
We must get behind the whole club at this crucial time, and ignore the few morons who claim to be Leeds fans.