Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth has suggested Jaidon Anthony as a potential solution to Leeds United’s left back issues today.
Smyth was speaking on the latest episode of the Inside Elland Road Podcast, where he was discussing who could play on the left of defence if Sam Byram is not available.
Alongside Junior Firpo’s long-term absence, Jamie Shackleton is also set to miss a second consecutive match due to a shoulder injury.
With Leo Hjelde seemingly out of the first team picture, that leaves Byram as the only natural option at left-back, though his availability is also uncertain.
It is not yet known whether Byram will be able to start for a third game in seven days with Leeds keen to manage his minutes carefully given his recent injury record.
Smyth suggests Anthony at left-back for Leeds
With all that in mind, Smyth has suggested Anthony as a potential ’emergency’ option to avoid moving someone like Pascal Struijk out of centre-back, where he has thrived this season.
“With Jamie Shackleton not an option, and Junior Firpo still not an option, Farke has got his work cut out to fill that position. I wonder that, instead of Struijk, because I think you want to keep Struijk at centre-back. We see how much of the play goes through him, he’s got a right foot and a left foot.
“Those passes he puts into the wingers are always in front of them and always letting them forward, you probably don’t want him not there to do that. So do you consider Jaidon Anthony in an emergency if Shackleton and Byram are unavailable?”
Anthony has never actually played as a full-back in a competitive match but the defensive side of the game was mentioned as one of his strongest traits after his arrival, by Joe Donnohue.
It would certainly feel like a risk playing him there but if push comes to shove, you would probably prefer him there than Struijk after last season.
That said, Anthony’s availability himself was only rated as 50/50 by Farke yesterday, and so it remains to be seen whether he is involved at all.
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