Leeds United boss Garry Monk has stressed that defender Gaetano Berardi is nowhere near a first team return yet as he needs to build up his fitness.
The highly-regarded full-back picked up an injury in Leeds' opening Championship game, against QPR, and has only just shrugged off the blow.
Berardi managed 45 minutes for the club's Under-23 side earlier this week, coming through with no issues, but Monk insists that does not mean he is close to a first team return.
Indeed, the Leeds head coach feels Berardi will have a lot of catching up to do in the fitness stakes when it comes to battling his team-mates to be involved with the senior side.
"It's going to take longer [for him to be in my matchday plans]", Monk told LUTV.
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"He's not fully fit yet and it's going to take him a while to get to full fitness and to a level that's competing with the group – especially competing for the first team squad.
"But he's working very hard, he's a good professional.
"He trains hard every day and he's got a programme to follow.
"I'm sure it won't take him too much time to get back to full fitness", the Leeds boss added.
Monk's men are next in action on Saturday when they play host to Barnsley in a Championship fixture.
The Whites lost earlier this week away at Bristol City, something which brought a four-game winning run to an end, and will be desperate to bounce straight back against Barnsley.
