Pascal Struijk is back in the fold, almost as if he is like a new signing at Leeds United and his return to fitness could mean a change in position for a teammate.
The 24-year-old defender was missing from the mid-point of last season, seven months on the sidelines. Edging closer to a return before the play-off final, Struijk is using pre-season to rediscover match fitness.
It has already been a summer of change at Leeds with plenty of players Daniel Farke had at his disposal last season, departing. But Jayden Bogle, Alex Cairns and Joe Rothwell have all arrived as new signings.
Brenden Aaronson and Max Wober have also returned to the club after loans in the Bundesliga as they look to help Leeds return to the Premier League. Wober’s return has ramifications for defender Struijk.
Struijk and Wober could mean midfield for Ethan Ampadu
When Ampadu arrived for a fee of £10m from Chelsea, he started off in the middle of the park. But injury to Struijk and Liam Cooper – who is in talks with Blackburn as a free agent – meant he dropped back.
But with Joe Rodon signed permanently, Wober returning from Gladbach, Struijk fit again and impressive teen James Debayo showing all the signs necessary to replace Charlie Cresswell, Ampadu is not needed.
It could allow the Wales star to return to midfield where is sorely missed. Speaking to the Evening Post out in Germany, Struijk says he reckons Ampadu must be excited to return to playing in central midfield.
“I mean, I don’t think that’s something I have to tell him. That’s probably the coach’s job. But I bet he’s excited not to play centre-back sometimes as well, even though he was doing a really really good job.
“Really good. Especially like from the moment I left, we [Leeds] played really well. So it’s just unfortunate that at the end, it didn’t come our way,” Struijk said, when asked if he’ll tell Ampadu to play in midfield.
Suddenly, Leeds seem to have plucked depth from nowhere
Eight players that finished the season in the Leeds squad have now left. Kris Klaesson, Archie Gray, Liam Cooper, Charlie Cresswell, Jamie Shackleton, Glen Kamara and duo Connor Roberts and Jaidon Anthony.
But the signings of Cairns, Bogle and Rothwell replaces a chunk of that. As does the return of Struijk, Wober and Aaronson while youngsters Charlie Crew and Debayo add some much-needed squad depth.
In defence, Leeds now have Struijk, Wober, Rodon and Debayo in the middle. In midfield, Ilia Gruev may now rival Ampadu, Rothwell and Wales star Crew. It looks as if the stones are being set in place.
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