When Leeds United spent over £100 million in the summer window, many fans knew there would be changes to the first team. It was clear that some players would lose their place despite being starters in the Championship.
10 new faces in the squad also meant competition for places was going to be brutal. Daniel Farke showed that he was willing to play his new signings based on form and not their price tag. Anton Stach, Gabriel Gudmundsson and Dominic Calvert-Lewin got into the team early while others took some time to adapt before making the lineup.
In recent months, Jaka Bijol, Lukas Nmecha and James Justin have proven themselves and have gotten valuable playing time.
Graham Smyth backs Leeds United star to make return to lineup
After a promising start to his campaign in the middle of the season, Jaka Bijol now seems to have taken a back seat in this team. The Slovenian has started just one game in the club’s last four matches in all competitions. But after his display in the FA Cup triumph against Norwich, Graham Smyth has said that it is likely Bijol returns to the lineup again.
“Jaka Bijol has absolutely put the cat among the pigeons, he was superb for me and yes we caveat everything with, it’s Norwich… They’re still a Championship side, so Jaka Bijol was shining against a Championship side, but he was shining. Players coming into a changed side find it much harder to shine, but Jaka Bijol did. I thought he was absolutely excellent. I think he’s become a major talking point looking at the Palace game.”
Leeds United will face Crystal Palace next, hoping for a result to take them closer to safety in the Premier League.
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Jaka Bijol should be a starter in this team
Bijol had a shaky start to life in West Yorkshire, but as the season has gone on, he has proven to be one of the club’s best defenders. His physicality and aggression couple with his passing ability make him a standout in that defence. The Slovenian has put in multiple solid performances through the season, which is baffling as to why he was dropped in the last few weeks.
| Statistic | Rank |
|---|---|
| Accurate Long Balls per Game | 🥇 1st |
| Interceptions | 🥇 1st |
| Clearances per Game | 🥉 3rd |
Daniel Farke needs to come back to his senses and continue to play the 27-year old at the heart of the defence. At this point of the season, there is no time chopping and changing, so the Leeds boss needs to return to the formula that worked so well at the start of the year.
