Leeds United are preparing for a busy run of five games in the next two weeks starting with Oxford United’s trip to Elland Road on Saturday. The club are aware that a solid points haul in the next few games will set them up beautifully for an automatic promotion charge in the second half of the season. The full squad will need to step up and fringe players such as Josuha Guilavogui could get their big chances to impress in the next couple of weeks.
The festive period brings a gruelling schedule for the Championship teams who will have to play five games in two weeks and it invariably tests the strength of the entire squad.
Daniel Farke is one of those managers who do not like tinkering with their team too much and prefers a smaller squad to work with but this time of the year he will have to use the players who have not been playing regularly with not many minutes under their belt.
The Leeds boss has already indicated that Patrick Bamford could get more game time if he remains fit for any length of time in the coming weeks but more such players could get their opportunity to impress.
Guilavogui joined Leeds on a free transfer in October and is still waiting for his first start for the Whites. He has made six very brief appearances from the bench in the league thus far but that could soon change in the next couple of weeks.
Josuha Guilavogui could soon start his first game for Leeds United
Joe Rothwell and Ao Tanaka have been solid at the heart of Leeds’ midfield over the last few weeks and have not allowed Ilian Gruev’s injury to affect the balance of the team.
However, there is now a feeling that the Leeds midfield could need a shake-up and we have already argued for the prospect of Tanaka replacing Brenden Aaronson as the number 10 in the team.
Ethan Ampadu’s return from injury has opened up the chance to get him back into the starting eleven in his natural position but Farke has insisted that the Welshman could need more time to get up to speed in terms of match fitness.
Leeds are unlikely to rush him back into the eleven but the midfield rejig could still take place with Josuha Guilavogui getting drafted into the starting eleven.
If Farke is prepared to rejig the midfield and Ampadu is still not ready to start games, the Frenchman gives him an experienced option in the middle of the park.
The 34-year-old is vastly experienced and has shown in his brief cameos that he is calm and composed on the ball and can keep things ticking along for Leeds.
Leeds need to know whether he is good enough
Josuha Guilavogui joined as an opportunistic signing for Leeds in October. Gruev’s injury left them short in midfield and the Frenchman was available on a free transfer.
He has a contract until the end of the season and the 34-year-old has not done much wrong in his six brief substitute appearances thus far this season.
The midfielder will hope to earn a longer contract but for that, Leeds will have to know whether he is good enough to hold down a place in the team when needed.
Farke will have to utilise the entire squad in the coming weeks and it will be a good chance for the Leeds boss to assess whether Guilavogui has the quality to continue at the club beyond the end of the season.
It will also be a chance for the veteran midfielder to impress the manager and potentially pave the way for a longer stay at Elland Road beyond next summer.
He would want to be part of the adventure next season if Leeds manage to achieve their goal and earn promotion to the Premier League.
