Leeds United returned to Thorp Arch for the start of pre-season training on Monday and over the next few months Jesse Marsch will be running the rule over his squad. The Whites have just six weeks to prepare for their Premier League season opener against Wolves and it’s fair to say a host of players will be trying to catch the head coach’s eye.
Indeed, Marsch may find himself with a few selection headaches ahead of that opening game and with Leeds expected to make a few more signings this summer, competition within the squad will only intensify at Elland Road. The battle for places will be fierce throughout the group, but it seems one of the most competitive positions is right-back, with four genuine options pushing for a place.
United recognised the need to strengthen their options on the right side of defence this summer and they moved quickly to bag Rasmus Kristensen from Red Bull Salzburg for a fee thought to be around the £10m mark. However, with Luke Ayling, Cody Drameh and Jamie Shackleton all competing for a spot, it seems the Denmark international will be pushed all the way.
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Here, Leeds Live assesses the club’s right-back competition.
Rasmus Kristensen
As this stage Kristensen looks to be the first choice in the role after making the switch to Elland Road from Austria. He’s a man who Marsch knows well from his time in Salzburg and he seems to have the edge on the likes of Ayling, who has held the role down since his move to Elland Road in 2016.
He certainly caught the eye last season with his attacking play, getting forward to claim 10 goals and eight assists from right-back and he was an ever-present in the club’s Champions League campaign, which was ended in the knockout stages by Bayern Munich. As such, he arrived in West Yorkshire with plenty of confidence and he’ll fancy his chances of taking his career to the next level in the white of Leeds.
Kristensen also has the World Cup to think about and he’ll desperate to claim a spot in the Denmark squad by carrying his form into the Premier League. He’ll be pushed all the way, though, by the names below and the pressure will be on to catch the eye in training.
Luke Ayling
After undergoing knee surgery at the back end of last season, Ayling will miss the start of the Premier League campaign. However, he’ll certainly be keen to make up for lost time when he returns to action.
The 30-year-old not only has his spot in the team to fight for, but he is entering the final year of his contract at Elland Road, too, meaning his future with Leeds appears to be on the line. As such, he’ll be determined to give Marsch food for thought when he does become available once more.
Ayling has been a key man for Leeds for six years and he certainly won’t be keen on playing a bit-part role this season.
Cody Drameh
Drameh is in a good place as he returns to Thorp Arch following his loan with Cardiff City. The 20-year-old claimed the Welsh side’s player of the year and young player of the year awards, despite only joining Steve Morison’s ranks in January and he’ll be keen to kick on and continue his progression at Elland Road.
He’ll be confident in his ability to compete with Kristensen over pre-season and he’ll certainly be keen to push Ayling further down the pecking order by leapfrogging the veteran over the coming months. If Drameh can catch Marsch’s eye in pre-season, he has the potential to really make a name for himself this time around.
Of course, he is still only 20, but his time with Cardiff will have done him a world of good.
Jamie Shackleton
This is a big year for Shackleton as he looks to take the next step in his career. He hasn’t been short of game time since breaking through the ranks and into the first-team back in 2018, but he hasn’t managed to progress into key player at Elland Road.
As such, at the age of 22, the former England youth international needs to kick on and the best way for him to do that is by earning a spot in Marsch’s thoughts. His versatility plays into his hands, given he can play at right-back or in midfield and moving forward a regular role in either position certainly isn’t beyond him.
However, if he can’t find a route into first-team picture, it may be best for him to consider other options.
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