Credit: Imago

Richie Mills

Wed 11 March 2026 12:05, UK

Jaka Bijol is doing more than enough to earn a Leeds United recall ahead of the trip to Crystal Palace.

The centre-back swapped Udinese for Leeds last summer for around £18million and was expected to be a regular in Daniel Farke’s team.

That hasn’t always been the case, however, with the 27-year-old starting just 12 of Leeds’ 29 Premier League games this season.

In recent weeks, versatile defender James Justin has been preferred in Leeds’ backline to Bijol but the Slovenian international’s impressive display in the 3-0 FA Cup fifth round win over Norwich City on Sunday has intensified calls for a Premier League recall.

While Justin has taken his chance when it has come his way, perhaps Bijol should be given a go for Leeds away at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

Jaka Bijol deserves shot back in Leeds team

While Norwich are a Championship side, Bijol was commanding at the back. He won all six of his aerial duels and made a combined nine interceptions and clearances.

Moreover, Bijol’s passing is, arguably, underrated. His passing accuracy was at 88 per cent against the Canaries, with eight of his 12 long passes finding their mark.

This was something Yorkshire Evening Post writer Graham Smyth was quick to point out after the Norwich win, which saw them set up a quarter-final tie with West Ham.

When asked if Bijol would come back into the team to face Palace in the Premier League, he said on the Square Ball Podcast: “It’s a hard one, isn’t it?

“Because James Justin has been excellent in every role Leeds have put him in and everything they’ve asked him to do. But what we saw today (Sunday) of Bijol, he’s such a talented centre-back.

“He’s so commanding defensively, such a threat from set-pieces at the other end, which Leeds could really have done with, I think, in the last game [against Sunderland].

“And he’s quite good on the ball as well, like quite reliably good on the ball off either foot. Can play it long, can play it short. He’s definitely knocking on the door. And it’s just a question of who drops out.”

In addition, whenever Bijol is on the pitch, he offers Leeds an aerial threat. Leeds have scored 13 goals from set pieces this season and in the 1-0 loss against Sunderland last Tuesday, when Plan A wasn’t working, going down that route could have been beneficial.

Leeds have lost two league games in a row. They may need to try something different and Bijol provides that.

Daniel Farke needs to consider defensive shuffle to bolster his options

Bijol may have been punished for giving away a needless penalty away at Chelsea last month, with the Slovenian limited to cameos off the bench in the league since then.

Pascal Struijk offers an important role as a left-footed centre-back on the left of a Leeds back three and Farke seems loath to drop Joe Rodon.

But with Gabriel Gudmundsson barely missing a minute at left-back this season, Farke may need to put Jayden Bogle or Justin on the bench just to give them an extra full-back option.

And as the Sofascore graphic shows below, Bijol boasts some impressive stats this season.

Justin does offer something extra in attack, particularly on the breakaway, but Leeds may need to go back to basics for the clash at Palace.

They are just three points above the relegation zone after two straight league losses, with big games against the Eagles and Brentford coming up before the international break.

Quite a few Leeds players put their hands up after the Norwich game but Bijol may have the strongest case.