Leeds United may have decided on left-back dilemma, Cagliari friendly gives hint
Jesse Marsch has a big decision to make ahead of Wolves’ visit to Elland Road to face Leeds United on the opening day of the season.
Junior Firpo’s injury left the Whites with just one left back in Leif Davis but he was then sold to Ipswich Town for £900,000 on the eve of the new League One season.
As a result, the American now faces the prospect of having to field someone unfamiliar with the role against Bruno Lage’s side who have the likes of Adama Traore and Pedro Neto at their disposal.
They took on Italian side Cagliari in a friendly at Elland Road on Sunday (31 July) and Marsch gave his first big hint as to who may fill the void at left-back when Wolves come to town.
Natural central defender Pascal Struijk was the player tasked with taking up the left-back slot against the Serie A club, as reported by The Athletic’s Phil Hay via his personal Twitter account.
There is always a chance that this is just to try and fool Lage ahead of next weekend’s but you would think that Marsch would want the Dutchman to get every minute he could in his new role, albeit temporary, to settle in.
The other options available to the manager are nowhere near as confidence-inducing with the likes of Jack Harrison or Diego Llorente as Struijk is the man who possesses both athleticism and defensive nouse.
It will still be tough for the Dutchman against Wolves and in any other game he is asked to play in such an unfamiliar role but there will be hope that a new left-back is in the works and Strujik can return to centre-half where he is much more confident.
In other Leeds United news, the manager could be regretting his decision to send this teenager out on loan after a sensational debut for his new club.