Not many will have a better inside knowledge of two of the four clubs battling it out for automatic promotion than defender Leo Hjelde, as the Championship enters its final 20 games.
The Norwegian star’s old side Leeds United remain top of the tree despite failing to hold onto leads against both Blackburn and then Hull City, the latter of which saw Illan Meslier generate huge criticism.
But having led second place by three points, Leeds are now just a point ahead of both Sheffield United and Burnley while Hjelde’s Sunderland remain in the race for promotion, sitting three behind Leeds.
It has been a year since Hjelde joined Sunderland from Leeds and while he has struggled for game time over the last 12 months, he played 105 of 120 minutes against Stoke on Saturday in the FA Cup.
Leo Hjelde makes Sunderland promotion verdict against Leeds
The left-footed Norway U21 man left last January but Daniel Farke’s ideas and tactics will remain fresh in the memory of a player that started Farke’s league game against Cardiff, but was hooked at half-time.
Hjelde never recovered from that and earned a move to the Stadium of Light, but only 19 appearances have followed. Speaking to the Echo, Hjelde believes Sunderland are contenders and are aiming to go up.
“I think the manager’s made it clear, we’re a team that want to go up this season, and I think with the signings we’ve made so far as well, it’s a clear pathway and we’ve got a good chance this year,” he said
“It’s just four months left of proper football. I think we made it clear in the dressing room, it was good to get a run [out] in the FA Cup, but we’re fully focused on Friday now and can’t wait for that one.”
Leo Hjelde’s career in numbers as player struggles at Sunderland
It does not feel like long ago when then-Ross County manager John Hughes compared Hjelde to Virgil van Dijk, the latter having spent a few years at Celtic. Hjelde was at Celtic during the comments made.
Eight senior outings for Leeds have been followed by less than 20 in a Sunderland shirt. Hjelde is now on the verge of no longer becoming a young player, but sinking down the back of the armchair of history.
Hjelde might not even be a Sunderland player by the end of January if a club propose a potential loan, like the one that saw him impress at Rotherham when Leeds finally convinced him it was a good idea.
His lack of game time will be making him feel his career is at a standstill. But and injury or two here or there, and Sunderland might just start using Hjelde again – helping the Black Cats finish above Leeds.
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