Leeds United head coach Jesse Marsch has provided a positive fitness update on three first-team players ahead of Saturday's Premier League trip to Southampton.
The Whites kicked off the 2022-23 campaign with a 2-1 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, with a strike from Rodrigo and an own goal from Rayan Ait-Nouri turning the game on its head after Daniel Podence had put the visitors in front.
Leeds will be looking claim all three points once again when they travel to St Mary's to face Southampton, who suffered a 4-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on the opening weekend.
Four of Marsch's summer signings made their Premier League debuts last weekend, with Rasmus Kristensen, Marc Roca, Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson all handed starts against Wolves.
The American boss has now confirmed that another of his new recruits in the form of Colombian winger Luis Sinisterra is available to make his debut on Saturday after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Sinisterra, who joined the Whites from Feyenoord for around £21.5m in July, is one of three Leeds players who has returned to first-team training along with captain Liam Cooper and midfielder Adam Forshaw, who have recovered from respective Achilles and knee problems.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday ahead of their trip to Southampton, Marsch said: "Adam, Luke and Luis are available this weekend. We've got more options this week."
Marsch has also confirmed than Daniel James will be in contention to play against the Saints after the Welsh winger was forced to sit out of their opening game due to suspension.
"Dan is 100% ready," the American added. "I think we'll use him from the bench this weekend. He's a really important player for us, a lot of flexibility and quality."
Leeds will still be without left-back Junior Firpo who is set to remain sidelined for the rest of this month with a knee injury, while Marsch has provided an update on Stuart Dallas who broke his leg at the end of April in the 4-0 defeat to Manchester City last season.
"It's much too early to start talking about a timetable for Stuart but any of you who know Stuart, his energy and personality is amazing," said Marsch.
"You see him suffering when he's got these electrodes on his legs, cranking it as high as he can. I think he's learning a little bit how to manage this but he's still been a big presence in the team, he's been here every day."
Marsch has also spoken about the arrival of goalkeeper Joel Robles, who moved to Elland Road on a free transfer earlier this week, and believes the Spaniard's experience can rub off on young stoppers Illan Meslier and Kristoffer Klaesson.
"The role for Joel is to really help support Illan and Kris but to compete with them and push them," the American added. "Obviously, our belief in Illan is at the highest level and even with the performance he had against Wolves it says everything.
"I think he's grown a lot, I've challenged him to become more of a leader and a vocal presence. I think a guy like Joel can help him. The goal is to have Kris as the No. 2 but he has to earn it. I think it's healthy competition."
Meslier kept two clean sheets against Southampton in the 2020-21 campaign, but conceded a goal in both encounters against the Saints last season, with Ralph Hasenhuttl's men winning 1-0 on home soil before claiming a 1-1 draw at Elland Road. body check tags ::
