Leeds United have a full week of preparation ahead of their clash with Plymouth Argyle for the first time in a month.
Even with an international break sandwiched in between, it has been a busy few weeks for several members of Daniel Farke‘s squad, with injuries and suspensions not making things any easier.
It was evident at Bristol City that the exploits of October had taken its toll with Leeds not looking anywhere near as fresh and free-flowing as in previous matches.
Junior Firpo’s attacking ability down the left was a big miss, while Largie Ramazani’s absence was extremely hard felt too.
Thankfully, Firpo will be back in the side against Plymouth Argyle at Elland Road. However, his full-back partner Jayden Bogle won’t be.
Isaac Schmidt facing make or break weekend at Leeds
Farke opted to go with the experience of Byram over Isaac Schmidt at Bristol City and to some extent it was the right decision.
Byram was named in the Championship’s TOTW after a fairly solid performance defensively, and his best efforts to at least try and get forward.
However, as Leeds began to dominate more and more, it became more telling that his capacity to constantly cut in onto his right-foot was a hindrance to the balance of the side.
Farke decided against introducing Schmidt to try and improve that but will be faced with another decision at full-back on Saturday due to the aforementioned Bogle’s suspension.
Being right-footed, Byram would feel more comfortable playing there against Plymouth but it already feels like a make or break weekend for Schmidt.
Schmidt has played just nine minutes of football since his deadline day arrival from FC St. Gallen and if he was again to be overlooked by Farke, it is really difficult to see when he will ever play.
Farke pointed to Schmidt’s attacking quality in his pre-Bristol City press conference and against a side like Plymouth, who have the second worse defensive record in the division, it is the perfect game to hand him his full debut.
If Farke goes for Byram again, it would make it quite clear Schmidt is fourth choice at full-back, and the only time he would ever play is if Firpo and Bogle are both absent at the same time.
What Farke said about Sam Byram vs Isaac Schmidt
The weekend draw at Bristol City was the first time Farke had to make a change to his defence all season and so the Byram vs Schmidt debate was a big topic in his presser.
Here is every word he had to say on his two back-up full-back options, with a hope that his praise for Schmidt’s attacking quality is a hint he will play him in a home game against weaker opposition.
He said: “I never speak too much about the starting line-up because my players should be first [to know]. Two natural options there with Byram and Schmidt. We have another training session this afternoon but it’s very likely one of them will replace him.
“They are obviously a bit different, Sam the experienced option, Isaac a new signing with new energy. Sam, also like in terms of physicality, heading, experience.
“He has played pretty often in central defensive role, bit more versatile in this topic. Isaac is pretty offensive-minded. Bit of a different profile but can both do both.”
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