Marcelo Bielsa has ongoing problems at left-back ahead of the play-offs, with Leeds United set to head to Ipswich Town on Sunday for the final game of the regular season without four options.  

Leeds have had injury problems all over the park throughout the season, and in recent weeks the left-back position has become something of a poisoned chalice.

Barry Douglas and Ezgjan Alioski are out for the season, whilst youngster Leif Davis is unavailable due to an operation. That’s left Stuart Dallas with a chance to impress heading into the play-offs, but the Northern Irish international suffered a knee injury in Sunday’s draw with Aston Villa.

A report in the Yorkshire Evening Post has eased the severity of Dallas’ setback, and he should be available for the upcoming play-offs. However, Bielsa might be reconsidering who he fields in the left-back berth after Gaetano Berardi’s solid second-half against Villa.

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Berardi is a versatile player and has shown that over his time with Leeds. He’s featured at right-back, centre-back and left-back, always delivering committed displays that have made him a firm fan favourite at Elland Road.

Whilst Dallas, who is naturally a winger, offers Bielsa’s side a good attacking option from left-back, you can’t get away from the fact that he isn’t a defender. That’s Berardi’s main strength in the position. He’s defensively sound and although you lose some threat going forward with him, you can afford to play a more attacking option ahead of him on the wing.

That was the case in the second-half against Aston Villa, with Tyler Roberts brought on ahead of Berardi on the left wing. The 20-year-old drifted into space and was a massive threat to Dean Smith’s side, almost scoring with a couple of neat efforts from the left of the goal.

Heading into the play-offs it is easy to understand the concern Bielsa might have over the left-back role. Whilst Dallas’ return gives him his preferred option back, the best option might have already been available in Berardi after an improved second-half against a strong Villa side.