Should Newcastle need specialists in January to battle the relegation, Leeds may just need a few extra bodies.
Sunday’s clash with Norwich was already billed as a must-win for the struggling white shirt.
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After three successful years under Marcelo Bielsa, the Argentine’s insistence on a small squad has come under the microscope.
Running to the ground daily by Leeds Head, fitness and paper form due to lack of depth.
Injuries have taken their toll on the term, as their seats have been full of inexperienced children in recent weeks.
One of them, Joe Gilhart, helped save a late point last weekend against Wolverhampton.
But former Leeds and England defender Tony Dorigo, who comments on every home and away game, believes they will have to cash in in January if he is still in the mud.
With value hard to come by, Bielsa isn’t a fan of the January window – he’s been on loan to Kiko Casella and Ian Poveda.
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But when asked if he sees problems keeping a neat team, Dorigo told SunSport: “I definitely do.
“If we’re still in trouble by January, one or two players are definitely not going to lose.
“I understand why Marcelo stuck to a small squad with a few players like Stewart Dallas to fill in the gaps.
“There are good guys out there but you don’t want to expose too much at the same time.
“So I still think we can do with a couple. When all these injuries happen the size of the team is exposed.
“We cannot afford to lose two full-backs Luke Ailing and Junior Firpo, and our top three players are Calvin Phillips, Ravenha and Patrick Bamford.
“If they all get out, it will always be difficult for us.
“Against Southampton a couple of weeks ago it was one of the most inexperienced seats I’ve seen.”
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Phillips made a comeback in his Carabao Cup loss to Arsenal on Tuesday after missing the last two games, with Ravenha also signed for starting at Carrow Road after his faltering last weekend against Wolverhampton.
Bamford missed the last four and there was doubt on Sunday, but the striker had never before been cutting trees with a one-in-five goal.
Only Burnley and Norwich have scored fewer than eight goals in nine matches.
But Dorigo is still confident in his ability to change the situation, starting with the “giant” confrontation against the Canary Islands.
The Achilles heel has so far failed to beat clubs around them such as Southampton, Burnley and Newcastle.
Nine points from those games outside last season have been replaced by two this time around.
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Dorigo added: “It’s a must-win feeling.
“I didn’t pick this game as very important at the start of the season, but the way things turned out, it really is.
“You can’t keep supporting other teams around you. That’s huge.
“It’s crowded in there so a little form helps, but you can’t keep saying that.
“However, once we get our best players back and start playing up to 90 per cent of what we can, we will be fine.
“However, with time, it becomes more difficult, and this season will not be a picnic at all.
“Everyone around the club is probably thinking, OK, we finished Season 9 last season, so now we’re going to be pushing for the backclothes for the European places.
“I’ve never seen it this way. It’s all about merging and becoming a team in the Premier League – one season doesn’t make you that way.”
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