Phil Hay says 26-year-old is ‘absolutely crucial’ to Leeds United’s chances at Leicester City

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Phil Hay says the fitness of Joe Rodon will be crucial to Leeds United’s chances of winning at Leicester City.

Hay was speaking on the latest episode of the Square Ball Podcast, where he was previewing Leeds’ upcoming trip to the Foxes on Friday evening.

Rodon limped off just after the hour mark in last weekend’s 4-1 victory over Huddersfield Town after feeling some apparent discomfort in his hamstring.

Daniel Farke claimed after the game that he was ‘carefully optimistic’ of Rodon’s chances of featuring at Leicester, before then providing a new update in his press conference on Wednesday.

The Leeds boss revealed that Rodon would be fit and available for the match at the King Power, as long as he came through the final training session ahead of the game unscathed.

Hay says Rodon will be crucial for Leeds at Leicester

Speaking ahead of the block bluster clash tomorrow night, Hay says Leeds cannot afford to face the league leaders without, in his eyes, the most important defender.

He said: “And I think as we saw in the second half against Huddersfield, and the difference when Rodon went off, he simply isn’t a player that Leeds can afford to lose at this stage. I think him being in the team is going to be absolutely crucial to how it goes for Leeds down at Leicester.

“In part, because Leicester’s defensive record means that you don’t expect Leeds to score a huge number down there. Although I think Leeds attack will put as much pressure on that defence as anybody else this season. But also Leicester are scoring goals and scoring freely and you do need your best back four.

“And he to my mind, as much as Struijk has really settled this season in a way that he needed to, I think Rodon is the player in that back four who has made the biggest difference.”

Rodon will be vital to Leeds’ chances

While Pascal Struijk has been vital to Farke’s side this season, there is no doubting the impact Rodon has made on him, and the rest of the back four.

Farke opted not to start Rodon in Leeds’ defeat at Southampton in September, and it was clear for all to see just how much he was missed, as they went 3-0 behind inside 35 minutes.

Leicester have won 13 of their opening 14 matches so far this season and Leeds simply cannot go into the game without one of their most important players.