Leeds United will be looking to bounce back from Monday night’s embarrassment this weekend as they head to south-west London to face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side sit in a very respectable 12th place in what is their first top-flight campaign in over 16 years.

Some of their performances have been wholly impressive, shocking Liverpool on the opening day – even despite losing – and drawing to Manchester City too.

Although, their 4-1 thrashing by Leicester City shows they are far from the complete article under the obsessed Argentinian tactician.

He has plenty to consider going into Saturday’s game – will anyone be dropped as a consequence of the shocking defeat? can anyone return to the starting XI?

Perhaps the biggest call will be surrounding his veteran playmaker Pablo Hernandez, who was visibly furious with his early withdrawal at Elland Road earlier this week.

The TV cameras spotted him throwing his armband into the empty stands, muttering something to himself before kicking a loose water bottle, all behind Bielsa’s back with his manager intensely focused on the match.

It’s not the first time it has happened either, think back to the Barnsley win.

According to The Athletic’s Phil Hay, United will still be without Rodrigo, which means the long-serving Spaniard is in line to start once again.

But he shouldn’t.

Hernandez has struggled in the Premier League thus far and at 35, he’s no spring chicken. In fact, he has completed the full 90 just once since the first UK lockdown but that didn’t stop him from playing like a “demon” in the eyes of Hay.

The man, who has registered at least eight assists for the Yorkshire giants in each of his last four campaigns, is yet to manage a single ‘big chance created’ in the top-flight.

On his day, the £23.5k-per-week star is the beating metronome of this Leeds side – an unplayable and supremely intelligent creator, or as Darren Bent told Sky Sports (via HITC), he offers the “X factor” and “something special.”

But those have been far and few between at this level.

It is Rodrigo who has proven to be the more creative outlet, managing one key pass and 2.2 shots per game, numbers vastly above that of Hernandez, as per WhoScored.

Whether it’s Tyler Roberts, Ian Poveda or one of the other wingers playing centrally, Bielsa ought to axe Hernandez for the Palace game.

AND in other news, Leeds academy reject has thrived since Ken Bates rejection…