Dan Carter

Tue 12 December 2023 9:40, UK

While things on the pitch at Elland Road are going incredibly well as Leeds United push for a return to the Premier League, the Whites are currently in the midst of a minor injury crisis.

Daniel Farke’s side is by no means down to its bare bones, but the German is short of options in a few crucial positions, particularly at left-back where he has no clear first choice available with both Junior Firpo and Sam Byram sidelined through injury.

The only natural left-back left in the Leeds side now fit and ready to play is Leo Hjelde, but he is unlikely to lineup for the Whites at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday (12 December) with Farke admitting that he has been demoted to the under-21 side.

Discussing the Norwegian’s position, Phil Hay (11 December) said: “Hjelde is available but Farke says that recently, he’s been working more with the U21s. Didn’t imply that he was likely to be considered.”

The 20-year-old hasn’t been seen in the Leeds United first team since the opening weekend of the Championship season, where he started the 2-2 draw with Cardiff City at left-back before being hooked by Farke at half-time after a dreadful first half.

Hjelde failed to win any of the three duels he entered in the clash, he didn’t attempt a single tackle, was inaccurate with all of his crosses and long passes in the match and has been exiled by Farke ever since.

There was a lot of speculation surrounding the Norwegian’s future during the summer transfer window, with Salernitana one club reportedly interested in signing him permanently, but the Whites were reluctant to allow him to depart because of the lack of options at left-back [Cronache, 11 August].

However, that decision now appears to have been a mistake as it is clear that Farke doesn’t consider the 20-year-old to be an option on the left of defence as even when no other left-back at Elland Road is fit, Hjelde isn’t considered for selection.

Leeds United should have sold the Norwegian during the summer transfer window and taken the opportunity to pocket the cash for an out of favour player, rather than spend months paying him first-team wages to train with the under-21s.

Hopefully, the Whites will do what they can to move on the 20-year-old in January, whether temporarily or permanently as it is clear that he has no part to play for Farke between now and the end of the season.

If he can’t make the squad when there is literally no other option available to the German, what is the point of keeping him at Elland Road? He has to go in January and he should have been axed in the summer.

In other Leeds United news, Dean Jones has tipped the Whites to enter the loan market for two signings this January