Pascal Struijk won’t be too keen to watch Leeds United’s performance at Aston Villa back. The Whites lost 2-1 at Villa Park to extend their winless run in all competitions to seven games and it was a miserable night for Struijk, who had a role to play in both goals conceded on the night.
The 23-year-old has performed well this season, stepping into the left-back role and making it his own during the first-half of the campaign. His performances have been enough to earn him a new long-term contract at Elland Road and plenty of praise along the way, too, as he continues to develop into a fine defender.
However, after two difficult performances in a row and the arrival of Max Wober, it’s fair to say his spot in Jesse Marsch’s starting XI is now in doubt. Struijk’s confidence took an initial beating at Cardiff City last weekend on a day he skippered the Whites.
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Despite playing his more natural left-sided centre-back spot, the Dutchman was exposed on a couple of occasions at the back as the Championship side built up a two-goal lead in South Wales. Leeds recovered to secure a replay with Struijk faring well in the second half, but he probably needed a good start at Villa Park just to settle any self-doubt.
What he absolutely didn’t need was Leon Bailey running at him, standing him up and curling a shot into the top corner of the Holte End net with less than three minutes on the clock. It was a fine strike, but the Jamaican was given too much space on the ball and he was allowed to pick his spot.
Things didn’t get easier for Struijk as he was twisted and turned inside and out by Bailey, who knew he had the beating of his man all night. The winger had a say in a chunk of the things Villa did well on the night and he popped up again in the second half to create what would ultimately be the decisive goal.
After allowing Bailey to skip away from him and cut inside, Struijk could only watch on as Meslier parried a fierce effort into the path of Emiliano Buendia, who nodded home the rebound. Stuijk’s number appeared on the fourth official’s board before play could restart once more as he replaced by Wober.
“Pascal is an important player for us,” Marsch said when asked about the defender after the game. “Playing out wide you have some difficult players that you have to defend.
“I think Pascal could have done better on both of the goals, but we're counting on him and we believe in him and we need him.”
Such words were undoubtedly reassuring for Struijk, but it seems he has left the left-back door open as Leeds approach the halfway stage of the season. As such, while Marsch would be reluctant to take out Struijk, who is currently his most used outfield player this season with 1,634 minutes under his belt, he does have a decision to make ahead of the club’s next league outing against Brentford, as Wober continues to push for a starting spot.
Like Struijk, Wober’s most comfortable position is centre-back, but he has spent the last few months playing on the left for Red Bull Salzburg and Leeds have brought him to the club with that role in mind. His performances, albeit off the bench, have been promising so far and Marsch will be looking to find a way of squeezing him into the team before too long.
Wober might even have the opportunity to start for the first time against Cardiff on Wednesday night and stake a claim with a good performance. Whether he features in the FA Cup replay or not, though, Marsch must think long and hard about his left-back options going into the clash against the Bees at Elland Road next weekend.
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