It is rare that injury news regarding Leeds United is positive but the returns of Rodrigo, Tyler Roberts and Joe Gelhardt to the squad for the defeat to Newcastle United provided a welcome boost.
Whites boss Marcelo Bielsa certainly needed his attacking options replenishing and was finally allowed to call on all three, although he did not introduce Roberts and Gelhardt until the latter stages.
The tight-knit Leeds squad has been stretched to its limits this season and consequently, the club has become the first in Premier League history to hand debuts to eight teenagers in a single campaign.
Kalvin Phillips and Liam Cooper remain long-term absentees but a return for Adam Forshaw could be close.
The midfielder picked up a hamstring injury in the league win over West Ham United but insisted on social media he would be back in action following the break if not for the Newcastle clash.
There has been no date fixed for the returns of Junior Firpo, Charlie Cresswell and Jamie Shackleton but supporters will be hoping the break provides an opportunity for at least some recoveries to be completed before the trip to Aston Villa.
Bielsa's comments on Patrick Bamford, however, dampened optimism about the return of the forward who featured in every single league game last season but has struggled for fitness in recent months.
Speaking about Bamford after the defeat to Newcastle, Bielsa said: "I have my doubts. I'm not sure. It's not just about being able to count on him, it's that he arrives in conditions to develop his game and a player who's gone so long without playing, it opens up a question mark, after he is healthy, how long he needs to show his regularity."
Young forward Sam Greenwood is also sidelined, making it even more crucial that Bielsa has Rodrigo, Roberts and Gelhardt back at his disposal.
