Leeds United had a great day at Molineux on Saturday. They scored a solid 3-1 win over Wolves, with three of their summer recruits getting on the scoresheet, and now have seven points from their opening five league games. However, they also left the Black Country with a dark cloud over the availability of Jayden Bogle for the next game.
Bogle has been brilliant for Leeds in the Premier League after being one of the most important players in their promotion-winning campaign in the Championship last year.
He produced the accurate cross that led to Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s goal against Wolves and was equally adept at shutting the door in the backline. Bogle is one of the first names on the team sheet when fit, but there are question marks over his fitness.
The defender suffered an ankle injury and had to be helped off the pitch. Daniel Farke conceded that it was too early to say anything, but it seems unlikely that he will be fit for the Bournemouth game at home next weekend.
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Leeds’ medical team will take a look at Bogle this week while Farke keeps his fingers crossed that the injury is not as serious as it looked on the pitch at Molineux.
However, it seems unlikely that he will recover in time to face Bournemouth at Elland Road, and it would be a major blow for Farke and the Leeds team.
Bogle’s injury will now put the spotlight on James Justin, who was brought in for £10m from Leicester City in the summer transfer window.
He is seen as a quality back-up to Bogle, with serious Premier League experience from his time at the King Power Stadium.
However, Justin’s defending in the Premier League did get criticised, and all eyes will be on him if he has the quality to replace Bogle in the team.
The former Sheffield United star has been one of the standouts at Leeds since he joined last year, and replacing his quality will not be an easy task.
Farke and the recruitment team’s judgment will come under scrutiny if Justin gets a run of games due to Bogle’s injury in the coming weeks.
Justin was part of a poor Leicester team last season
Justin came under scrutiny for his defensive actions for Leicester last year, but let’s be honest, he was part of a poor Foxes team.
Leicester had very few redeeming qualities, and it is not as if the right-back was committing huge errors leading to goals or chances.
He made 36 appearances in the Premier League last season, but only made two errors leading to goals and just one that led to a shot on goal.
Leicester were a mess defensively, and there is enough evidence to suggest that in a more solid structure at Leeds, Justin would look better.
However, Farke still needs Justin to stand up and prove his mettle if Bogle ends up spending a few weeks on the sidelines.
