Credit: Breaking Media/Manh Tung

Richie Mills

Wed 18 March 2026 14:40, UK

Jayden Bogle’s spot as a Leeds United first-team regular is under threat after dropping to the bench against Crystal Palace.

Ever since Bogle swapped Sheffield United for Leeds in 2024, the right-back has been a constant presence in Daniel Farke’s team.

He made 45 appearances and scored six goals as Leeds claimed the Championship title last season, and this term, he has played 30 times, scoring twice.

Other than coming on for a cameo against Liverpool on New Year’s Day, Bogle has been a starter for Leeds in every Premier League game this season.

That run ended on Sunday in Leeds’ goalless draw at Crystal Palace as James Justin was preferred.

But with Gabriel Gudmundsson suspended for Saturday’s clash against Brentford, Bogle has a chance to show Farke what he is missing.

James Justin threatens Jayden Bogle’s first-team stranglehold

There was little fanfare when Justin joined Leeds from Leicester City for an initial fee of £8million last August.

The versatile defender was on the fringes for the first half of the season, but since the turn of the year, the 28-year-old has become a key player for Farke.

He has started 11 of Leeds’ last 12 Premier League games, excelling all across the back five in multiple different positions.

And the fact that Farke chose him over Bogle speaks volumes, despite this Sofascore graphic below showing the latter’s solid season for Leeds.

However, Gudmundsson is suspended for Brentford’s visit to Elland Road on Saturday after a harsh sending off at Selhurst Park.

Bogle is likely to return as a right wing-back, while Justin is almost certain to take Gudmundsson’s left wing-back role.

The question is, when the Swede returns, who will start in their FA Cup quarter-final tie away at West Ham on 5 April?

For now, it seems Justin is in the driving seat. But if Bogle can excel against Brentford, a seed of doubt may be planted in Farke’s mind.

That may be enough to consider a rethink.

Justin and Bogle neck and neck for Leeds

According to Sofascore, Justin has a higher Premier League rating at 6.85 versus 6.51. However, he has a smaller sample size from 21 games versus 28.

When it comes to interceptions, both average one every game, and Bogle seems to be the more potent attacker, while Justin shades him defensively.

Although Bogle averages 1.9 tackles per game to Justin’s 1.3, the latter is dribbled past less frequently, edges him in clearances per match (2.5 vs 2.2), and is slightly better at aerial duels (52.9 per cent vs 43.2 per cent).

In attack, both have scored one Premier League goal, but Bogle’s Expected Goals tally is 2.04, whereas Justin’s is 0.79.

Both have created four big chances this season, while Bogle is a more successful dribbler (16.7 per cent vs 29.5 per cent).

It is a very close call. But the fact that Justin is so versatile and has taken his opportunity with both hands in 2026 gives him the advantage heading into the final stretch of the season.