Djed Spence should keep Leeds United starting position v Coventry despite Sunderland loss
Djed Spence’s defensive display versus Sunderland will give Daniel Farke a Leeds United starting XI headache ahead of Coventry City on Saturday 16 December.
Plagued by injury for the majority of this season, Spence was handed his first start of the season in a 1-0 loss to the Black Cats on Tuesday night and did not disappoint.
Despite playing on the opposite side of the pitch to his natural right-back position, the 23-year-old looked at home against Abdoullah Ba before he was replaced by the even more talented Patrick Roberts.
Spence completed 80 per cent of his tackles, making the most out of anyone on the pitch. He kept up an impressive 90 per cent pass completion rate against Sunderland, won 73 per cent of the ground duels he entered and won 100 per cent of his aerial duels. [FotMob]
With Jack Clarke leading the counterattacks against Leeds, with Ba, Jobe Bellingham and Roberts in support, Spence admirably departed the field without committing a single foul.
As per FotMob, Spence was awarded the highest rating on the team of 7.7. Crysensio Summerville came the closest with a 7.4 rating. Only three players from the winning team warranted a better rating.
Spence’s pass accuracy is vital to Farke’s system, playing out from the back and linking up with the wingers in Summerville and Dan James. He is also important to the way Leeds attack, with his 67 per cent of dribbles completed to help push the Whites up the pitch.
The potential opponents for Spence against Coventry are Haji Wright and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, who both pose dangerous risks to Leeds on Saturday afternoon.
Junior Firpo, Sam Byram and Jamie Shackleton, who are all capable of playing left-back, are not expected to be available for the Coventry clash. Spence should be given his second start of the campaign to combat the Sky Blues threat.
Rotation has been mooted after a long string of games, but Spence is one who simply has to stay in.
In other Leeds United news, club could terminate loan deal early with Elland Road return on the cards.