David Woods

Tue 27 October 2020 8:18, UK

Marcelo Bielsa started Pascal Struijk in the holding midfield role against Aston Villa on Friday but it was a night to forget for the Leeds United youngster.

He got a yellow card for scything down elite foul winner Jack Grealish, although we didn’t have any complaints over the decision this time.

He could have seen red shortly after and Bielsa did the right thing by hooking him off.

Jamie Shackleton came on but he didn’t play the holding midfield role. Instead, Mateusz Klich dropped back and Shackleton played more of a Klich role.

You couldn’t call it a double pivot but it’s as close as Bielsa has ever got.

However, it worked brilliantly. Leeds were a completely different side once Shackleton settled into the game.

The 21-year-old has never managed to bag a regular spot in the first team because of the dominance of Klich.

However, the game against Villa marked the 51st appearance for the 21-year-old.

Klich put on a masterclass, completing more accurate passes than any other player on the pitch.

He also won five duels and made nine ball recoveries.

Struijk is a player for the future. He’s done well at centre-back and looks good with the ball at both feet.

We think the holding midfield role is a step too far for him at the moment.

And, while Phillips is out, we really hope that Bielsa plays the same Shackleton/Klich combination.

If Liam Cooper is back for the Leicester game then there’s a chance that Robin Koch moves up to the holding midfield spot and Struijk plays at centre-back.

If he’s out, Struijk could play at centre-back but we’d really like to see Luke Ayling in the centre, Stuart Dallas on the right, Gjanni Alioksi on the left. And Klich/Shackleton in the middle.

It worked so well against Aston Villa that we can see Bielsa doing it again – although it would still represent a major surprise.

In other Leeds United news, ‘Wasn’t sure… I am now’ – BBC pundit does huge u-turn on Leeds player he said ‘couldn’t play’