Graham Smyth reacts to what he’s told about Wober ahead of Leeds United v Derby
Graham Smyth has questioned whether Max Wober would have what it takes to play at left-back for Leeds United in their Championship clash against Derby on Saturday.
The Whites currently sit third in the league and are just three points adrift of league leaders, Sheffield United after being beaten 1-0 by Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
Speaking on the Inside Elland Road Podcast (5 December), Smyth shared his thoughts on Joe Donnohue’s suggestion of the Austria international playing at full-back after Junior Firpo’s injury.
“Have we considered the possibility that Max Wober starts this weekend at left-back in the place of Junior Firpo who has got a foot injury he picked up in training,” Donnohue said.
“Have we considered that he was the [expletive]-haus that Farke was looking for in that game?”
To which Smyth replied: “Could he, is that his game?” Donnohue then added: “It’s not but he’s got defensive qualities, his defensive behaviour as Farke would put it, he’s pretty strong.
“We haven’t really seen him in the Championship have we”.
Could Max Wober put in a shift for Leeds United at left-back?
The 2024/25 season hasn’t been the kindest to Wober domestically with the centre-back finding himself sidelined due to injury for most of the campaign.
In addition to his injury, the fact that Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk have formed a fairly formidable partnership doesn’t play much in his favour.
The former RB Salzburg man has been deployed across various areas of the pitch in his senior career with the defender even being used at left-back 43 times thus far [Transfermarkt].
While he may not be the fastest or have the attacking prowess that Firpo brings to the table, he’d be a more than solid defensive option and probably the best choice that the West Yorkshire outfit has due to Isaac Schmidt and Sam Byram also being doubts for Saturday’s game.
If Daniel Farke does choose to deploy Wober at full-back, the game against Derby could end up being the turning point in his Leeds career and allow him to prove his worth to the German once and for all.
In other Leeds news, Adam Pope has shared his thoughts on what Blackburn Rovers ace Lewis Travis did against the Whites at the weekend.
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