Mark Smith

Mon 9 May 2022 11:30, UK

Leeds United have a huge dilemma to solve ahead of their Premier League showdown with Chelsea on Wednesday [11 May].

The Whites will be without Luke Ayling for the rest of the season after he picked up a red card against Arsenal.

There could be no complaints either after the right-back lunged in double-footed on Gabriel Martinelli with the score at 2-0.

Jesse Marsch admitted it is a big problem.

The American has Jamie Shackleton who can play in that role, and Raphinha has also filled in at right wing-back when needed.

That is not the answer.

Dan James has been used in numerous roles this season, but we believe he could be the saviour at wing-back if placed there.

Marsch has played five at the back in recent weeks, and with Chelsea to come, using James out wide could suit him perfectly.

The Welshman has the pace to keep up with any attacker, but also to get forward and cause trouble on the overlap.

Lightning.

We saw it work perfectly in the dying moments at Arsenal.

With Illan Meslier up for a corner, the Gunners broke quickly and it looked as though Nicolas Pepe was clean through on goal to finish the game off.

That wasn’t the case though, as, within a flash, James got back and nicked the ball from his feet and kept the pressure on moving forward.

Playing Raphinha there would simply nullify both him and Leeds as his attacking input would be little to none.

That cannot happen.

Chelsea’s main weapons are their wing-backs, and we need to match fire with fire, give Marcos Alonso the panic of having to deal with James all night – he would hate it.

In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay has shared what Luke Ayling did in the dressing room after the defeat at Arsenal