Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa is still without a plethora of his key stars as his side returns to Premier League action this evening...

What's the word?

The Yorkshire giants make their long-awaited comeback following the winter break with a trip to the Midlands to face Aston Villa and they will do so without four first-team regulars.

"[Adam] Forshaw, [Jamie] Shackleton and [Charlie] Cresswell all back for Villa on Wednesday, but still no [Patrick] Bamford, [Junior] Firpo, [Kalvin] Phillips or [Liam] Cooper and Bielsa is getting worried by Bamford’s foot injury," revealed Daily Mirror journalist David Anderson this week.

Huge blow

This will come as a huge blow to the Argentinian head coach as, despite a two-and-a-half week absence, he still returns to an injury crisis at Thorp Arch and he will not be able to call upon some of his most trusted players.

Skipper Cooper is a big miss in the backline, where continuing problems have often led to a reshuffle. The towering Pascal Struijk had had to fill in at left-back - where Bielsa's only option Firpo has been absent and he remains missing today - and even Luke Ayling has had to fill in at centre-back, as a result of these persistent issues.

No other player in this squad is as important as Phillips to the way in which they play.

"The Kalvin Phillips role is possibly the most important in that team because he’s the one who maintains the centrality, and is very much used as a fulcrum at the base of the midfield," claimed LeedsLive journalist Joe Donnohue to GIVEMESPORT. "Anybody knows that you can pass through him, and he’ll ensure a safe passage of the ball to the other side of the pitch or forwards or backwards."

And then, of course, Leeds have sorely missed Bamford's goals upfront, having top-scored with 17 goals in 37 starts last season. Only Raphinha (eight) has found the net more than four times this season.

To not have any of these four players available on their return to top-flight action is certainly a cause for concern and one that'll leave both Bielsa and the Elland Road faithful gutted, if not a little angry.

AND in other news, Bielsa must unleash Leeds' 19 y/o "massive talent" vs Villa, it could be game-changing...