Not for the first time this year, Leeds United were indebted to their high-flying full-backs as Daniel Farke’s league leaders fought from 2-0 down to claim a point at Queens’ Park Rangers.
Junior Firpo is averaging either a goal or an assist every time he takes to the pitch in Championship action these days. He would be denied another at Loftus Road – Morgan Fox credited with putting the ball through his own net – but the danger was created by Firpo once again popping up in the sort of position more often associated with a seasoned centre-forward.
The equaliser, meanwhile, came from Jayden Bogle. That is five now for the season for the right-back. His most prolific season ever.
To quote EFL expert Ali Maxwell, Firpo and Bogle are setting a new standard for attacking full-backs in the Championship.
And, given their importance to Farke’s system, it’s no wonder the Leeds United boss is taking an ‘if it ain’t broke’ approach these days, with changes to his starting XI kept to a minimum.
This means that Isaac Schmidt, the £2.5 million signing from St Gallen last summer, has barely featured in his debut season on English soil.
Leeds United’s Isaac Schmidt sheds light on his favourite position
Schmidt has played a grand total of 25 minutes in England’s second tier, spread across seven substitute appearances. His only starts came in the FA Cup against Millwall and fourth-tier Harrogate Town.
So, while Schmidt prepares to make his Switzerland debut during this month’s international break, the seldom-seen 25-year-old remains something of an unknown quantity back home in West Yorkshire.
Despite arriving at Elland Road having made most of his St Gallen appearances last term at left-back, both of Schmidt’s starts under Farke have come on the right-hand side.
Speaking to Swiss publication Blick, Schmidt is reluctant to label either role his favoured one. He feels that there are benefits to starting in both. The left-hand side suits his ball-carrying talents, while the right allows him to whip crosses into the penalty area with greater freedom.
“I love both positions,” Schmidt explains. “I am a better dribbler on the left and a better crosser on the right.”
Daniel Farke has a plan for Swiss full-back at Elland Road
With Junior Firpo’s contract expiring and Real Betis keen to bring him back to Spain, the opportunity could open up for Schmidt to play more regular first-team football next term. His versatility and two-footedness could also come in handy if – heaven forbid – Leeds are to suffer any injuries in the full-back department during the run-in.
Isaac Schmidt insists that Leeds see him as a ‘regular’ in the XI, even if the form of Firpo and Bogle have rendered opportunities to stake a claim few and far between.
“The club showed me clear prospects and made it clear to me that they see my potential as a regular starter,” the former Lausanne Sport youngster adds. “England is a different world than Switzerland.
“I only moved shortly before the transfer deadline. It takes time to establish yourself at a club like that. I’m waiting for my chance.
“The training sessions in Leeds are of a completely different quality than in St. Gallen. Even though I’m not playing, I’ve gotten used to the fast pace. If I had joined the national team eight months ago, I might not have been able to keep up with the intensity in training here.”
Schmidt could be joined at Leeds United by Alvyn Sanches this summer. A familiar face and a footballer he knows very well from their time together in the Lausanne Sport academy.
Sanches, scorer of 15 goals from attacking midfield this season, is one of a number of playmakers identified as a potential rival for the hard-working but inconsistent Brenden Aaronson.
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