Leeds United defensive options set for internal ranking as Jesse Marsch nears decision time - YEP 8/9/22
Leeds United head coach Jesse Marsch must choose between Junior Firpo and Pascal Struijk at left-back – decision taken out of JM’s hands
By Joe Donnohue
Leeds’ summer window came to a close without the club having
added a left-back to Jesse Marsch’s squad.
After sealing incoming transfers for several first-team
players, many supporters believed the club’s business would only be completed
upon the arrival of an alternative centre-forward and cover at left-back.
Last season, Stuart Dallas and Junior Firpo were United’s
two main options on the left-hand side of defence but with both ruled out
through injury at the start of 2022/23, Marsch was left to find a solution from
within his squad.
Recently called up to the Netherlands setup for the first
time, Pascal Struijk has emerged as the solution to Leeds’ lack of depth in
that position. The 23-year-old has started each of the Whites’ league fixtures
there this season and some would like to see him remain outside his natural
berth of left centre-back.
Last year, Firpo’s adaptation to the Premier League left a
lot to be desired as the former Spain Under-21 international picked up 11
bookings in just 24 league appearances.
Struijk’s start to this campaign at left-back, where he
ranks highly for successful tackles, interceptions and touches of the ball, has
solved one problem but created another.
As Firpo returns to full fitness it is likely he will be
given the opportunity to reclaim his place in the starting XI, but given the
reliability with which Struijk has performed in this early part of the season,
Marsch knows he can readily call upon the Dutchman to deputise if he is left
dissatisfied by alternatives in his squad.
Struijk’s youth and positional flexibility is not only an
issue for the Spaniard Firpo, but also for the more experienced Stuart Dallas.
The Northern Irish international is still some months away
from a return to the pitch after sustaining a femoral fracture towards the end
of last season.
At the age of 31 having spent such a lengthy period out of
action with such a severe injury, there is no guarantee Dallas returns with the
same malleability he has become renowned for.
At Elland Road, the pecking order for left-backs has slowly
shifted with Struijk beginning 2022 as merely an emergency option, but could
enter 2023 as Marsch’s first-choice in that position.
Until now, the decision has largely been taken out of the
head coach’s hands as Struijk has been the only suitable senior option. However,
the Leeds United left-back day of reckoning is fast approaching as fit-again
Firpo, Dallas and Struijk all vie for one place in the team.
Given his incremental all-round improvement as a player
since joining the first-team group, further exposure at left-back will only
cause the Dutch World Cup hopeful to learn the role more acutely, in theory at
least.
Firpo, on the other hand, is unlikely to feature anywhere
else in this Leeds team, while Dallas’ minutes are expected to be limited
across the board given the nature of his gradual reintroduction, a change in
formation, Leeds’ addition of Marc Roca and Tyler Adams to defensive midfield
and, of course, Struijk’s form.
Strength in depth is something Leeds lacked desperately last
season, and while those who have been usurped at the start of this campaign may
disagree, multiple options for the same position is not a bad thing.
Factor in Leo Hjelde’s ability to play left-back also and
Leeds have four very different profiles for the same spot: experienced,
versatile utility man, attack-first Spanish import, young but capable pretender
and exciting up-and-comer.
How Marsch decides to assemble the pecking order moving
forward is anyone’s guess – but it’s a nice problem to have.
