Andy Couzens has warned Helder Costa that he’s going to have to wait for his chance at Leeds United after starting the first three Championship fixtures on the bench.  

Leeds made a big move to sign Costa for Marcelo Bielsa in the summer, with the Portuguese winger arriving on a season-long loan at Elland Road, which will become permanent next summer for a reported fee around £15m.

Yet, Bielsa has overlooked Costa for Leeds’ first three Championship fixtures, opting for Jack Harrison and Pablo Hernandez on the wing.

And, Couzens believes you can’t argue with Bielsa’s selection given Leeds have seven points from a possible nine after three fixtures. 

“I suppose you look at the team at the minute and you can’t really argue with the manager,” Couzens told Football League World in an exclusive interview with Chief Editor, Sam Rourke.

“Everybody seems to be performing and to come in and potentially take Hernandez’s position (on the right) is a very difficult thing to do.

“He’s got to wait for that chance, but in these 5-10 minutes he’s getting, he’s got to prove he’s worth getting into the first-team. Then, once you get that chance, you’ve got to take it and that place is yours.

“We all know what Bielsa is like, he’s very loyal to his players and very loyal to the squad and the team that plays week in, week out.

“You’ve got Jack Harrison down the left, Hernandez down the right, who are playing very well at the minute.”

Costa’s only start this season came in the League Cup win over Salford City last Tuesday, with the 25-year-old laying on two assists for his teammates.

Should he break into the starting XI anytime soon, Couzens is hoping to see a reshuffle that’ll see Hernandez move centrally, he continued: “I’d quite like to see him down the right-hand side, and I’d quite like to see Hernandez in the middle of the park to try and pull the strings.  

“But the balance of the current team seems to be pretty good at the minute.”