Leeds United manager Daniel Farke will have the full squad at his disposal in the coming days as their international stars return to England following their national team commitments. The German coach has a huge selection headache ahead of facing Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday.
The Whites have made a steady start to life back in the Premier League, with eight points from their opening seven games. However, they have a real opportunity to consolidate their position in the league table in the next couple of weeks.
Leeds will be taking on Burnley and West Ham, respectively, in their next two league games. Both teams are below them in the Premier League table, and both are struggling for confidence and form.
The Yorkshire giants will be keen to build on their solid start, but Farke has a big selection headache, as a Leeds defender’s performance during the international break cannot be ignored anymore.
Jaka Bijol pushes for a place in the Leeds United team
Leeds signed Jaka Bijol from Udinese in the summer for a deal worth up to £18m, and he was expected to be a starting eleven player in the Premier League.
However, he was suspended from their opening Premier League game, and since then, he hasn’t had a chance to get a look in due to Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk’s performances.
The Slovenian has been waiting for his turn and made the most of his chances to play for Slovenia during the international break, playing a big role in registering back-to-back clean sheets.
Leeds signed Bijol for his physical presence and aerial dominance, qualities seen as major assets in the Premier League.
His performances for Slovenia during the break have given Farke a headache, and he may be forced to make a change to his team at Burnley on Saturday.
Bijol is closing in on his Premier League debut for Leeds, and his wait for a league appearance for the Whites could come to an end next weekend at Turf Moor.
Who goes out of the team?
Rodon has emerged as the defensive leader in the team this season, and it is hard to see how he gets dropped following his performances in the last few weeks.
However, Struijk has had a few hairy moments in the last few games, and he is the defender who is expected to make way if Farke decides to bring in Bijol into the team.
He has been solid, but has looked a little circumspect in the last few games, and this is the opening Bijol has been looking for this season.
The Slovenian will add more aerial dominance to the Leeds team, but he is not as good on the ball as Struijk, so Farke may have to think hard about making that change.
However, a change may be necessary as Bijol is banging on the manager’s door to get that chance he has been looking for since the start of the season.
Struijk may feel a tad unlucky if he goes out of the team against Burnley, but this may be the Slovenian’s time to get his Premier League opportunity.
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