Daniel Farke must start 21-year-old Leeds United player at CB vs Leicester if Joe Rodon isn’t fit – opinion

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Daniel Farke could be tasked with a huge decision to make at centre-back for Leeds United’s trip to Leicester City on Friday.

Joe Rodon was substituted just after the hour mark in Leeds’ 4-1 win over Huddersfield Town at the weekend, with his withdrawal unfortunately fitness related.

Rodon is said to have limped off with a hamstring problem, though Farke did say after the match he is ‘carefully optimistic’ he will be available for the huge clash at the King Power Stadium.

However, if Rodon is not fit enough to be involved, Farke has a big call to make as to who he brings into replace him, with Charlie Cresswell and Liam Cooper the two options.

Cooper came in for the 26-year-old against Watford last month following his red card at Hull City, before then being rewarded with a start the following week at Southampton.

Farke should start Cresswell ahead of Cooper if Rodon is out

Ultimately, though, Cooper proved in that disappointing defeat at St. Mary’s that he is no longer good enough to start in the big matches.

Leeds found themselves 3-0 down and out of the game inside 35 minutes, with Cooper’s error for the first goal immediately putting the Whites on the back foot.

Both Cooper and Luke Ayling’s introduction from the bench last weekend against Huddersfield Town also saw the defence lose much of its structure, and Leicester really is the last place Leeds can afford for that to happen.

With that in mind, Farke should trust Cresswell with a start on Friday if Rodon doesn’t make it. Not only has he proven himself in this division with a ‘brilliant’ loan spell at Millwall, but it would also mean Pascal Struijk does not have to move over to right centre-back.

Struijk is the most important player to Farke’s build up from the back, and moving him over to the right shuts down many of the passing angles only he is capable of using.

With all those reasons in mind, Farke simply has to trust in Cresswell to start regardless of his lack of football recently.