Journalist moots Leeds United cameo role for Djed Spence v Middlesbrough, he’s ‘last piece in puzzle’ for Daniel Farke
Leeds United defender Djed Spence could get his comeback from injury up and running with a cameo role against Middlesbrough on Saturday (2 December), according to Beren Cross.
Leeds Live journalist, writing in his article (2 December) ahead of the Championship clash at Elland Road shares that Farke handing him his full debut against his former club “would go against every note of caution the manager has used up to now”.
Spence has only played just once for the Whites since joining on loan from Tottenham in the summer, having been blighted by a knee injury and illness in recent weeks.
Cross believes Spence could be handed the chance to get his comeback journey up and running with minutes from the bench against Michael Carrick’s team after sitting out the 3-1 win over Swansea (29 November), as he is the “last piece in the puzzle” for Leeds United.
He wrote: “After a long road back from his knee issue, the 23-year-old finally returned to the matchday squad on Wednesday night, but Daniel Farke resisted the temptation to put him on. It would go against every note of caution the manager has used up to now if he were to suddenly give Spence his full debut.
“Time from the bench, against a former club, is surely in the offing to get this comeback up and running. Spence feels like the last piece in the puzzle.”
About time
The defender has been edged back to full fitness slowly but surely and it’s clear that Farke is still being cautious with the Tottenham Hotspur loanee.
With eight games to play over the next four and a half weeks, though, Spence’s time will come sooner rather than later and the Leeds United boss has certainly indicated that the Tottenham loanee won’t be just a bit-part player in his squad.
The Middlesbrough clash may just be the perfect time to hand Spence some crucial minutes in his legs as he is indeed the missing attacking piece in Farke’s jigsaw.
Spence was signed by the club in the summer to bolster the full-back options available to Daniel Farke, with Cody Drameh allowed to leave as a result.
But he almost immediately picked up an injury and Farke has instead opted to use Archie Gray and Jamie Shackleton as makeshift options instead of the experienced Luke Ayling.
Now Spence is fit again and available, he could add a whole new dimension to the squad out wide and is already proven at this level where he registered two goals and four assists from 42 Championship appearances for Nottingham Forest, on loan from Boro.
Certainly, the young full-back will still need a couple more weeks to get up to speed with Farke’s demands given the length of time he’s been out but the German has certainly given all the inclinations necessary to suggest Spence will be a crucial component.
In other Leeds news, high-earning star “burning with desire” to leave Elland Road in January.