Marcelo Bielsa must be frustrated by the amount of injuries Leeds United are picking up, even if his hardened exterior doesn’t show it.  

Leeds are without several key players heading into the festive period, which is a major worry with the Whites looking to firmly establish themselves in the promotion race heading into 2019.

Yesterday, it was announced that both Liam Cooper and Stuart Dallas will miss the festive period after picking up knee and foot injuries respectively in Leeds’ win at Sheffield United last Saturday.

Cooper’s absence was expected, but Dallas was a fresh blow for supporters and now deprives Bielsa of the man he’s had to turn to at right-back in the absence of Luke Ayling and Gaetano Berardi.

Bielsa is going to have to find a new solution at right-back on Saturday when QPR visit Elland Road, but he does have options.

Here is a look at THREE players he could turn to…

This is the obvious choice as Shackleton has played at right-back already this season.

Although he’s naturally a central midfielder, the youngster has the energy to feature down the right side, as he did against Swansea City back in August.

It’ll be a tough ask against Luke Freeman, though.

Gotts is yet to be handed a first-team chance at Elland Road, but he’s impressed for the club’s youth teams in recent months.

It’d be a huge risk by Bielsa to include him, but it might be something he considers after this latest setback.

Phillips might be asked to deputise at centre-back, but should Leeds play with a four-man unit and Aapo Halme in the centre, Phillips could switch to right-back.

It’s something Bielsa won’t want to do, as Phillips’ influence in a central position is huge. But, with Leeds stretched for numbers, he could be forced to move his main man into an unfamiliar position.

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