Phil Hay tips Archie Gray for midfield role in Leeds United Championship clash v Cardiff City
Phil Hay has tipped Archie Gray to return to a midfield role for Leeds United when they travel to face Cardiff City in the Championship on Saturday.
Speaking on The Square Ball podcast (12 January), the reliable journalist shared that Daniel Farke could shuffle his team around for the return to league action with Pascal Struijk and Liam Cooper out injured.
Ethan Ampadu is expected to play in defence alongside Joe Rodon and that led Hay to admit Gray could play in midfield, with Jamie Shackleton then moving to right-back instead.
“The one thing that I’ve wondered away from home is that Archie Gray in midfield gives you a bit more attacking threat and a bit more attacking thrust,” he said.
“And also, it gives you a bit more of that killer pass that he’s very, very good at. It’s one of his big strengths.
“It’s a less safe approach than say Ampadu and Kamara together, but it might be advantageous to have someone like that in your team but then again, someone has to play at right-back.
“There is Shackleton who is fit again.”
Better
With Daniel Farke making it abundantly clear that Charlie Cresswell is not being considered for the centre-back role any time soon, that means Ampadu is almost certain to be moved out of midfield and into defence once again.
That will leave a gap in the middle that some people may prefer to see filled by Ilia Gruev, the £5m signing from the summer window, but Gray is so talented he has to be in with a shout.
Obviously after losing Luke Ayling and Djed Spence already this month the right-back position is a bit light currently, but there is an option to use Sam Byram there with Junior Firpo on the left too, or to put Shackleton in at right-back as he has done on several occasions already.
Those would all allow Gray to come into the midfield in his more natural position and show off his full skillset, where he impressed so much earlier in the season.
It will be a tough decision for Farke regardless of what he decides, but many Whites fans will want to see Gray further up the pitch for this game.
In other Leeds news, Phil Hay drops ‘Biggest Issue’ Farke had as transfer decision made at Elland Road.