Aidy White says Leeds United fringe player would start every week under Daniel Farke, but for one problem

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Daniel Farke has been forced to change his Leeds United defence in the last four games due to three separate suspensions, with Junior Firpo guilty of two of those bans.

Firpo was the first Leeds player this season to pick up five yellow cards, picking up a fifth against Watford and it meant he was absent against Bristol City. In that game, Jayden Bogle picked up his fifth booking.

The game after, the win over Plymouth, Firpo returned but Sam Byram remained to replace Bogle. Next up was the defeat to Millwall, in which Daniel Farke reinstated his normal back four with Firpo and Bogle.

But on Saturday, Farke was forced to change the defence again – the same defence he has started in 12 of his 15 Championship matches with Firpo handed a retrospective ban for a headbutt against Millwall.

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Aidy White says Sam Byram would start every week for Leeds

Stuart Dallas recently said that Byram is “Mr. Reliable”, and that is clearly how Farke sees him. The 31-year-old is simply happy to be at Leeds, penning another one-year deal in the summer to stay put.

Able to play on both flanks, Byram has had to endure a dismal career with injuries and while the worst of that is behind him now at Leeds, the Thorp Arch academy product needs to be monitored carefully.

Speaking on The Square Ball, his former Leeds teammate Aidy White said: “Brilliant. As soon as I first trained with Sam, he must’ve been 17 or 18. I said he was ‘brilliant’. I said he’d have a tremendous career.

“His career though would have been even better if injuries hadn’t stalled him. But even in the last two games when he’s been on the pitch, he’s showed he is very good,” White continued, on defender Byram.

“I just think, he’s suffered with so many long-term injuries, it’s just a case of can he string a full season together. If he could I feel he would be first-choice right-back, he’s struggled with that. I feel his pain.”

Sam Byram’s stats for Leeds United compared to Jayden Bogle

Bogle is a top, top player. But there are doubts regarding his ability to defend. Leigh Bromby reckons Bogle’s weakness has not yet been seen by Leeds fans or Farke, given the way Leeds dominate games.

What is impressive is Byram’s ability to win the ball back compared to Bogle. Despite only playing for a quarter of the minutes Bogle has done in the Championship, he has made half the amount of tackles.

Interceptions is the same story. But of course, Bogle has two goals this season and Byram has made little contribution. A mix in between would be perfect, but those kind of right-backs are playing at the top.