Leo Hjelde offers Leeds United a reminder with two clean sheets on international duty
Leo Hjelde has been in inspired form for Norway U21s during the international break, after the Leeds United defender played two full games against San Marino and Latvia.
The versatile defender kept two clean sheets as the young Norwegian side managed to win both matches 7-0, to give them the perfect start to the Under-21 Euro qualifying campaign, where they feature in a group alongside Italy, Ireland and Turkey.
Hjelde played at centre-back in both matches, as the left-sided central defender in a back four, a slightly different role when compared to where he has typically featured at club level where Daniel Farke has opted to utilise him as a makeshift left-back.
The 20-year-old’s start to the season has been far from ideal, struggling in the Whites’ season opener against Cardiff, earning the lowest player rating of any Leeds player with a 5.6 [Fotmob], before being replaced by Sam Byram at half-time.
Since then Hjelde has not played another minute in the Championship, with Byram and Jamie Shackleton preferred on the left side of defence and Pascal Struijk and Joe Rodon the preferred pairing in the middle of the defence. He did appear in the Carabao Cup defeat to Salford City but was once again deployed at left-back.
While the scoreline in both of Norway’s international fixtures suggests it was a pretty easy break for Hjelde’s side who dominated both Latvia and San Marino, the two wins, and more importantly clean sheets, will have done a world of good for the 20-year-old’s confidence.
Youth international football is a much lower standard than the top end of the Championship, but Hjelde has demonstrated he is more than capable of being a defender in a competitive side and can provide cover at centre-back.
With Junior Firpo closing in on a return from injury, it seems as though the Norwegian defender is going to find his minutes limited on the left side of defence and he may have to bide his time to get another run out at Elland Road.
But should either of Farke’s preferred centre-back options pick up an injury and join Liam Cooper on the sidelines, Hjelde has shown that alongside Charlie Cresswell, he can be a very able deputy in defence. Especially having impressed during his loan spell with Rothernam United last season in the same division.
In other Leeds United news, one Italian journalist has slammed Wilfried Gnonto claiming he doesn’t deserve to wear the Italy shirt