Jesse Marsch finds himself struggling with a familiar headache as he prepares his Leeds United team to face Aston Villa on Friday night. United's right-back options have been a talking point at various points of the season and it seems Marsch has another tough call to make this week.
The head coach has three specialist right-backs to choose from with Luke Ayling, Rasmus Kristensen and Cody Drameh all vying for his approval, but no one has been able to completely nail the spot down over the last few weeks. The head coach made it clear that Kristensen was his first choice over the first few months of the season, backing the Denmark international over Ayling, who missed the start of the campaign through injury, and Drameh.
Kristensen struggled for form initially, but he started to settle and find his feet through October and November as the World Cup break approached. However, Marsch seems to have changed his stance since the club’s return to action, with Ayling getting the nod to start the Whites last couple of Premier League games.
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The Dane was a second half substitute at Newcastle United, but he was left unused when Leeds hosted West Ham United last week at Elland Road. It remains to be seen whether Ayling has done enough to keep hold of his spot at Villa Park, though, and that’s where the uncertainty lies.
Cody Drameh’s second half appearance against Cardiff City in the FA Cup further complicates matters. The youngster impressed in South Wales, albeit against a tiring second tier line-up who sat deeper and deeper as the game progressed, but it was still enough to give Marsch something to think about moving forward.
He has been looking to find Drameh more opportunities and the youngster did all he could to get his foot in the door in his first senior appearance in four months. The American will have to disappoint two of the above names, but picking between them looks tricky.
As the man who has played most this season, let’s consider Kristensen’s credentials first. As mentioned above, the Dane struggled to hit the ground running in a Leeds shirt and picked up a bit of criticism for his performances throughout August.
He found confidence and traction after the first international break, however, and returned to Elland Road to keep the likes of Wilfried Zaha and Andy Robertson quiet. The 25-year-old struggled with the challenge of Jack Grealish, though, on December 28 and he’ll be keen to draw a line under his display against Cardiff quickly.
Kristensen has plenty to offer when going forward but he has a habit of being caught out on the counter and that has been costly in key games this season. That brings us to Ayling, who held down the role for so long until Kristensen's summer arrival.
The 31-year-old looked off the pace in appearances against Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur before the break and didn’t look at all comfortable at Newcastle United on New Year’s Eve or against West Ham, for that matter. He gave the ball away with regularity against the Hammers and struggled to find joy during his forays up the field.
He’s the most experienced option at Marsch’s disposal and he may well be the most disciplined, too, which will come in handy in dealing with the threat Lucas Digne and Emiliano Buendia down Villa’s left. The head coach has taken the opportunity to speak highly of Drameh on a number of occasions lately, but he just hasn’t been able to find the first-team chances for him.
As such, Sunday’s outing in South Wales, where he spent last season on loan, was the first time he had been in a first-team squad since his start against Brentford in September. Anyone who has watched him perform for the U21s this season will know he is ready to take the step up to the senior side on a full-time basis, though, and while it would be a bold call for Marsch to select Drameh, it wouldn’t be seen as much of a risk.
It’s a big game when it comes to the Whites’ hopes of survival and Drameh’s lack of experience works against him, but Marsch has no reason to believe the youngster can’t successfully step up if required.
The head coach has selection decisions to make across the park, as he ponders Max Wober’s role, what to do with an out of sorts Brenden Aaronson and how to tighten up across the backline. It’s clear the door is open at right-back, though, and whoever gets the nod at Villa Park has the opportunity to cement their place in the starting XI moving forward.
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