Daniel Farke relegates Leo Hjelde to Leeds United under-21s despite injury crisis ahead of Sunderland clash
Leo Hjelde has been relegated to the Leeds United under-21s despite being fit to play, manager Daniel Farke has confirmed.
The Athletic’s Phil Hay reported from the German’s press conference via Twitter on 11 December that despite injury issues at left-back the Norwegian wasn’t likely to be considered.
Both regular starter Sam Byram and occasional stand-in Jamie Shackleton are out for the trip to Sunderland on Tuesday night (12 December), on top of Junior Firpo who was already unavailable, but Hjelde, 20, appears to be out of the first-team frame.
Hay wrote: “Hjelde is available but Farke says that recently, he’s been working more with the U21s. Didn’t imply that he was likely to be considered.”
Hasn’t made the grade
It is easy to forget that Hjelde actually started the Farke reign at Elland Road at the front of the left-back queuebut hasn’t been seen for months now.
Three starts in August across all competitions clearly didn’t impress the German and Byram has long-since become the first choice on that side of the back line.
But, despite a decent run of starts so far for the returning former Norwich City man it appears that the fitness concerns that surrounded the 30-year-old when he re-signed might have finally materialised.
With Firpo somehow even more injury prone it would seen that an addition at the position might be the top priority in the January window.
Hjelde still has age on his side but he doesn’t look like he’s anywhere near the first-team as a central option and if he has failed his senior audition on the left in the eyes of Farke his future at Leeds United doesn’t look especially bright.
He was linked to a departure in the summer which never happened but it wouldn’t be any surprise if he moved on in one of the next couple of windows now.
In other Leeds United news, a “brilliant” player who left the club on loan in the summer is wanted back in the squad at Elland Road.