Daniel Farke is going to need everyone in his Leeds United squad over the coming weeks with the busy festive period just around the corner.
Leeds kick off another three game week with a clash against Derby County at Elland Road but from Oxford United on December 21 to Blackburn Rovers on New Years’ Day, they face a run of four matches in 12 days.
Farke isn’t usually one to change his line-up around too much but there can be no excuses during this part of the season, particularly given the strength in depth he has.
As such, it may give some players who have been on the fringes in recent weeks the chance to stake a claim for a regular place in the starting XI over the second half of the campaign.
Junior Firpo was someone who managed to do that last season, replacing Sam Byram early on in the New Year’s Day win over Birmingham City, providing two assists, and going onto become a key player.
- READ MORE: Predicted Leeds United XI to face Derby… Two changes as Daniel Farke makes Brenden Aaronson decision
Mateo Joseph sends ‘extra work’ message to Daniel Farke
One player who will be frustrated at his recent lack of minutes is Mateo Joseph, considering how much he was playing early on in the season.
Having started all of Leeds‘ opening eight Championship matches, Joseph has started just one in 10 since. Joel Piroe has been the preferred option, despite goals not exactly flying in for him at a rapid rate in games he has started either.
Farke has used Joseph off the bench in every match he hasn’t started but the Spanish striker was actually blasted as ‘half-hearted‘ by Jon Newsome after a recent cameo at Swansea City.
However, Joseph’s latest post on his Instagram story is a message to Farke that those claims about his effort levels simply aren’t true.
Joseph has shared footage at Thorp Arch of him doing ‘extra work’ on his finishing, and given how dark it is when the video was filmed, it looks like he had been there a while.
Joseph’s biggest criticism whenever he has played this season is his finishing but this is exactly the sort of thing Leeds fans and Farke love to see.
Joseph vs Joel Piroe record when starting for Leeds this season
A lot of fans in the corner of Piroe when it comes to the debate of who should start up front for Leeds are there because of his goals.
However, four of Piroe’s seven goals this season have come as a substitute when there is more space for him to get chances and the hard yards have been done for him.
Joseph has also provided more assists in matches he has started, showing his link-up play is better than that of Piroe’s.
| Starts | Goals | Assists | |
| Joseph | Nine | One | Three |
| Piroe | 10 | Three | One |
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