Jesse Marsch has more than a couple of difficult decisions to make ahead of Monday night’s clash with Nottingham Forest. The head coach could well make changes up front, at centre-back and even at left-back as Junior Firpo edges closer towards making his return to action.
However, the toughest call he must make arguably comes at right-back with three players vying for one spot. Rasmus Kristensen started Leeds’ first five Premier League games at right-back following his summer switch from Red Bull Salzburg and at the start of the season it seemed as though he was the man destined to take the role on a permanent basis moving forward.
The Dane hasn’t quite settled in as well as he would have hoped, though, and after missing the trip to Brentford on Saturday through injury, it seems his place is well and truly in question. Cody Drameh was the man chosen to come into the side by Jesse Marsch, while the head coach had the luxury of being able to name fit again Luke Ayling as a substitute.
Read more: Leeds United's defensive options as Jesse Marsch ponders back four changes
Ayling stepped off the bench to play the final 20 minutes of the game at the Gtech Community Stadium and he certainly staked a claim with his performance against the Bees, getting forward well, throwing his weight around and setting up Marc Roca’s effort at what appeared to be a key moment of the game.
Kristensen is expected to be fit enough to take on the Reds on Monday and that would mean the head coach has to upset two men. As such, over the coming days Marsch will be considering the pros and cons of each player as he puts his side together for what already appears to be a crucial clash at Elland Road.
Let’s take a closer look at his options, then.
Rasmus Kristensen
The Denmark international would have been in the team last Saturday if it wasn’t for the slight knock he picked up in training last week. However, it must be said Kristensen has struggled to shine consistently on the right-hand side of Marsch’s defence.
He has shown glimpses of his talent - his slide tackle on Rayan Ait-Nouri in the opener against Wolves immediately springs to mind - but he hasn’t looked entirely comfortable with the physicality and speed of the Premier League. He has also struggled to provide a regular attacking threat down the flank, which is certainly something he shaped his game around while playing in Austria.
As such, his spot in the side is far from secure. However, Kristensen is still very new to the English game and given time and patience, he has the attributes needed to be a success at Elland Road.
He’s on a steep learning curve at present and the more time he has on the field, the more steps he will take towards improvement. Marsch knows what he can do and if he looks in the Dane’s direction, he will do all he can to fill him with confidence and self-belief
Cody Drameh
The youngster made his first Premier League start of the season on Saturday and he looked strong on the right-hand side. He kept his composure, didn’t take risks and showcased his talent after being called into the starting line-up late in the week.
After starring on loan at Cardiff City last season, Drameh is desperate for more senior minutes to continue his development, growth and to establish himself firmly at a senior level. Despite Marsch hinting at it, a loan move away from Elland Road did not materialise for Drameh and therefore, he’ll be keen to make his presence in this battle for right-back felt, particularly in training this week.
The head coach was happy with his performance against Brentford and he’ll be watching him closely this week in the build-up to Monday’s visit from Forest. If he can assert himself and catch the eye, the head coach may just be tempted to place his faith in youth, a decision which would certainly provide Drameh with a huge confidence boost.
Luke Ayling
After watching the first five league games from the sidelines due to injury, Ayling was a welcome presence on the bench last Saturday. It was the first time his name had been seen on a teamsheet since Leeds’ loss to Arsenal in May, having undergone knee surgery in the weeks that followed his red card at the Emirates Stadium.
The 31-year-old only got 20 minutes against the Bees but he certainly made the most of it, sparking life into the Whites at a crucial period of the game, after seeing Ivan Toney complete his hat-trick and put Brentford 3-1 ahead. It was a performance that sent a very clear message to the head coach, who had been sent from the sidelines before Ayling got the chance to enter the fray.
If Ayling is ready to make his first start of the season, Marsch may find himself tempted to throw him straight in on Monday and give him the chance to make another statement and nail down that spot. The defender has little to prove to the Elland Road crowd, but with contract expiring at the end of the season, he doesn’t need another reason to show he still has a role to play in the Whites’ defensive line.
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