Leeds United have a problem at left-back following Junior Firpo’s injury and they have been forced to use makeshift options like Sam Byram and Max Wober in that area of the team. However, they have a natural left-back in their squad who Daniel Farke has been reticent to deploy thus far. Isaac Schmidt joined Leeds in the summer in the dying embers of the transfer window. He was seen as cover for Firpo at left-back but even when the Dominican is injured, Schmidt is not getting a chance to play. Questions need to be asked whether he will ever be good enough to be a real option for the Whites.
The Yorkshire giants forked out a fee of £2.5m last summer to sign the left-back from Saint Gallen towards the final hours of the transfer window.
Schmidt expressed his excitement at joining a club of Leeds’ magnitude and admitted that he was keen to experience the passion of English football and their fans.
However, appearances have been few and far between for the defender who has been forced to warm the bench for most of his time at Leeds since his arrival in August.
He has played just 25 minutes of Championship football across seven substitute appearances and despite earning praise from Farke recently, he was an unused substitute in the last three league games.
Even with the fixture congestion during the festive period and Firpo’s injury, he didn’t get an opportunity to start one game for Leeds.
At this point, it is legitimate to ask what the recruitment team saw in him when he was signed last summer as it is clear Farke is not seeing the same things.
Isaac Schmidt has done nothing to suggest that he will ever make it at Leeds
Isaac Schmidt is likely to get his first start this weekend when Leeds host Harrowgate Town in the third round of the FA Cup at Elland Road.
With the Leeds squad getting stretched, most of the top players will be rested for the FA Cup clash and a heavily rotated squad will take the field on Saturday evening.
The Swiss is one of the many fringe players who could get some action this weekend but his performance is unlikely to change his fate for the Championship games.
Farke has made up his mind about who he wants to play at left-back and it is clear that he just doesn’t rate the 25-year-old defender enough to give him relevant first-team minutes in the league.
In the few minutes he has played here and there, Schmidt has done little to warrant more game time. He has looked distinctly average and has not even threatened to get into the starting eleven.
It seems Leeds dropped the ball in terms of recruitment when they decided to spend a fee and sign the Swiss defender in the last summer transfer window.
Will Leeds try to sell the Swiss in January?
Leeds are taking stock of their squad in the winter window and are assessing which areas they could strengthen this month.
Tottenham left-back Ben Davies has been linked with a move to Leeds and he would be a quality addition to a squad that could need a new full-back in January.
However, signing a new left-back would be complicated and they could need to move on a full-back if they are to sign Davies from Tottenham in the winter window.
Schmidt has added little value to the squad this season and his departure could help Leeds to bring in a real option for that area of the squad.
However, finding a buyer for him would be complicated as he has hardly played, and we don’t see many clubs lining up to sign the left-back in the winter window.
Farke would want to hold on to him if they don’t bring in a replacement as despite the lack of minutes, he is still an option and the Leeds boss would not prefer to weaken his squad in any way.
