Darren Bent has urged Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa to give Helder Costa and Eddie Nketiah more opportunities to start matches after the intentional break.

Both players joined Leeds during the summer transfer window, Costa on a loan-to-buy deal from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nketiah on a season-long loan from Arsenal.

Costa has been involved in every game for Leeds this season, but the Portuguese winger has had to settle for a place on the bench in the Championship so far - appearing as a substitute in all six league matches.

The 25-year-old has impressed with his performances for Leeds so far and scored his first goal for the club against Stoke City in the Carabao Cup last week, although he has been unable to force his way into the starting line-up in the league.

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Nketiah has also made a promising start to his Leeds career, scoring three goals in five appearances, although he is also yet to start in the Championship.

Former Premier League striker Bent has insisted that the duo will be desperate to start games and has urged Bielsa to give them more opportunities after the intentional break.

“They’re definitely going to be knocking on his door and they’re going to be asking questions sooner or later,”  Bent told Football Insider.

“What you don’t want to happen is, yeah, they want to play but they’re not using them enough, they lose their heads and mentally, they’re gone.

“When they do get the opportunity, they’re not ready for it. He needs to have a look at it, give one or two of them the opportunity after the international break and start again.

“You don’t want to get to the point where you’ve got Helder Costa and Eddie Nketiah going: ‘When am I going to play, when am I going to play?’ that eventually their heads are gone when they do get the opportunity.”

Leeds are currently third in the Championship table after taking 13 points from their opening six matches, but lost their unbeaten record against Swansea City at the weekend.

The Verdict

I think Bent could be right. Costa is a fantastic player and I think he's going to turn out to be an excellent signing for Leeds. Nketiah is also a very talented footballer and I've been very impressed with the impact he's made so far.

Costa has got plenty of experience in the Championship and will probably be wondering why he isn't starting games. The fact that he's had to settle for a place on the bench says a lot about how well Jack Harrison and Pablo Hernandez have performed.

Nketiah has arrived at Elland Road from a top club in Arsenal and while this doesn't mean that he should automatically start matches, he'll probably be wondering why he hasn't been given more opportunities after scoring three goals in five games.

Both players will be desperate to start games and I think Bielsa should give them more opportunities after the intentional break.