Leeds boss Bielsa set to miss Wanderers match

Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa looks set to miss the highly anticipated friendly with Western Sydney Wanderers this Saturday - the debut match at the new Bankwest Stadium.

The news will come as a huge blow to fans with the 63-year-old Argentine one of the main attractions of the Championships side's tour to Australia.

He will now likely depart straight after the pre-season friendly against Manchester Untied in Perth on Wednesday after just 36 hours Down Under, according to reports Reports from the UK.

None of Bielsa's new signings - including Portuguese international Helder Costa - made the trip to Australia, while a number of players who joined pre-season training late after being granted extra rest following national team duty, were also exempt from the long haul journey.

It is understood Bielsa wants to divide his time between both squads to ensure the players left in England are put through a rigorous pre-season regime.

"Marcelo wants to work with the lads he has brought in and the lads who came back a bit later," said Leeds skipper Liam Cooper.

"They are doing the fitness work they missed out on when we were there. It is normal. We have an experienced group and we just get on with our jobs."

Bielsa is still to decide officially whether to fly to Sydney for the Wanderers clash in Paramatta, but organisers have been told not to expect him.

The former Argentina, Chile and Lille boss didn't arrive in Australia with the squad on Sunday in order to ensure his squad in England were crystal clear on his vision ahead of another promotion chase.

Leeds finished third on the Championship[ table last season and missed out on promotion to the Premier League losing to Derby in the play-off semi-finals.