Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa could make a rather unpopular call this weekend as his side host the west Yorkshire derby on Saturday afternoon.

What’s he said?

Last time out, the Whites thrashed local rivals Hull City 4-0 to move to within one point of the Championship leaders, West Brom.

Patrick Roberts came off the bench to score a quickfire brace to seal the victory which led to fans labelling him as an “absolute monster” who needs to start against Huddersfield Town.

But those calls may fall on deaf ears as former defender Danny Mills believes Bielsa will stick to his stubborn ways and start Patrick Bamford instead.

Speaking to Football Insider this week, he said:

“Bielsa will not waver. He is forthright and stubborn and knows his own mind.

“What it has shown is there is an option off the bench.

“Clearly Bielsa trusts Roberts and maybe that is the difference between him and the likes of Poveda and Augustin. He is still not 100% sure what they are going to do when they get their opportunity. With Roberts, he knows and he is prepared to give him a chance at least.

“To come off the bench and get a couple of goals that is what Leeds need. Something different. He has always played in a slightly deeper role. He is big, strong and powerful and he has shown he can score goals. If Leeds need a plan B, they can use him.”

Danny Mills to Football Insider.

Stubborn cost

The Argentine manager could be playing with fire over such a call considering Leeds rank amongst the worst for chance conversion in the division.

Per Transfermarkt, the Yorkshiremen are second-bottom at 13.8% having scored just 54 goals from 391 shots on target. Only relegation-threatened Middlesbrough are worse.

Watch Leeds United Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

And with Bamford starting 34 of their 36 matches, the brunt of the blame must fall at his feet, especially as he’s only been able to bag 12 times himself – just 22% of Leeds’ total for the season.

The brace on Saturday would have given Roberts a massive boost in confidence as he has found game time limited this season, featuring in only 13 matches, playing a total of 481 minutes.

He showed that he could potentially fill a void as a makeshift centre-forward – one that can actually find the net.

Call yourself a Leeds expert? How much did each of these January signings cost?

Maybe it is worth considering him as more than just a “plan B” if the 26-year-old continues to falter in front of goal during the final ten games of the season.

And in other news, ex-player drools over potential summer transfer target for Leeds…