Leeds United head coach Jesse Marsch has been speaking to the media this afternoon as his side prepares to face Steven Gerrard's Aston Villa at Elland Road.
The Whites' crucial home fixture on Thursday, March 10 will be Marsch's first outing as new boss in front of a sold-out Elland Road.
Supporters will experience Marsch's animated touchline antics and his dictating of Leeds' press as the American is expected to receive a warm welcome, despite the mournful atmosphere following Marcelo Bielsa's premature exit.
Ahead of Aston Villa's arrival at Elland Road, Marsch has been speaking to the local and national press, questioned on several topics including injuries to key players.
Patrick Bamford has shaken the foot injury which kept him sidelined at the beginning of this year, but is lacking match fitness having not made an appearance since December 5, 2021.
Marsch confirmed that the England forward will feature in some capacity.
"Patrick will play for sure tomorrow," said the Whites coach. "He won't start but he'll be ready from the bench and we're excited to have him back in the team and he'll give us a real boost."
Marsch also hailed the impact Bamford's return will have as he outlined the process behind his recovery.
"What was interesting was that when we were contemplating his return to play and what we wanted his weeks to look like here since I've been here then the physical team told me what his loading has been over the past six, seven, eight months and the different kinds of injuries he's had, he hasn't trained hard often and certainly hasn't played much.
"Even getting him back, that's the reason why I was hesitant against Leicester. I just felt like we had more to lose than gain in that moment and knowing how important Patrick is, even from a personality perspective.
"He's a positive guy, he comes with energy, he works really hard, the effect he'll have in the group will be relatively massive and I think we need to make sure that we handle his return in a way that only gets him stronger and stronger and better and better. "
Kalvin Phillips was pictured outdoors at the club's Thorp Arch training ground this week, but Marsch concedes it may be a short while longer before he is making a competitive return.
Nevertheless, his participation with the first-team training group is reason for optimism as the list in Head of Medicine and Performance Rob Price's treatment room gradually begins to shrink.
"Liam [Cooper] was in training yesterday, I think he’s making really good progress. Kalvin is a few days behind. We will evaluate on Friday if he's ready to start enter training. In my mind I’m earmarking the international break, as a time when we can really start to get him into a training rhythm and back to being at 100 per cent.
"Maybe it happens earlier, but I think what's most important at this juncture right now is that we don't have any setbacks and that we're building him in the right ways so that the curve of returning back to play is as steep as can be but has no interruptions."
Diego Llorente has overcome a muscular issue to be in contention once again and Adam Forshaw could return to the starting line-up after he was dropped to the bench at Leicester City.
“They’re possibilities from the start, and certainly close to 100 per cent." Marsch added. "Adam told me he hasn’t felt this good in weeks, so he’ll absolutely be ready, and Diego was full on training today as well.”
Leo Hjelde underwent knee surgery last week and is expected to be back before the end of the season.
Positive news on the injury front is only likely to rally support amongst the Leeds United fanbase ahead of a pivotal couple of days in the Whites' season.
Tomorrow's fixture against Aston Villa is followed by a relegation six-pointer versus Norwich City three days later.
Keep up to date with Marsch's live pre-match press conference here.
