Leeds: Hjelde can fix Marsch’s big problem

Leeds United defender Leo Hjelde may very well be the reply to one in all Jesse Marsch’s lingering issues at Elland Highway.

The Nottingham-born teenager was signed from Celtic in August 2021 and shortly turned the youngest-ever Norweigen to play within the Premier League after he made his debut in opposition to West Ham United, lower than every week after starring of their defeat to them within the FA Cup.

These are simply two of his 4 senior appearances for the west Yorkshire giants and apparently, he has typically been deployed at left-back, moderately than his extra pure central defensive position.

It’s a place that Marsch is struggling in proper now, with Junior Firpo at the moment out injured. That mentioned, even when the previous FC Barcelona man is on the market, he’s removed from a perfect starter.

Day by day Mirror journalist David Anderson described the defender as a “liability” to the workforce, so maybe the American head coach ought to show to the younger Norway U21 worldwide as a substitute.

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The 19-year-old has been broadly tipped because the ‘subsequent Virgil van Dijk’ by some, although the 6 foot 2 gem might have a future at left-back, given his tempo attributes and defensive intelligence.

After the sport in opposition to the Hammers, Leeds legend Jermaine Beckford waxed lyrical about Hjelde. He advised the club’s official podcast:

“The younger boy, Hjelde when he got here on as effectively, what a participant he’s trying by the best way.

“I don’t need to put an excessive amount of strain on him. However that’s twice we’ve seen him, twice we’ve seen him in opposition to West Ham, in opposition to a really bodily, very sturdy, very fast centre ahead in Michail Antonio and a difficult participant in Jarrod Bowen.

“I don’t need to say he had them in his pocket, however I feel he did.”

In the meantime, the previous Ross County loanee was dubbed a “massive talent” by his previous supervisor John Hughes, who additionally mentioned throughout one other interview:

“Leo goes to be the following Van Dijk. Belief me on that.

“The standard he has proven, the bodily problem, enjoying actual males’s soccer and standing as much as it – it’s been an exquisite expertise for Leo.”

Hjelde’s inclusion at left-back may very well be a good move that permits Pascal Struijk to maneuver again right into a extra pure central position, while additionally protecting the inconsistent Firpo out of the facet fully, which after the current 5-2 drubbing by Brentford, may very well be a smart transfer certainly.

Marsch has expertise in growing youth, so it could make additional sense to transition the 19-year-old right into a first-team star at Leeds. Subsequent van Dijk or not, he’s value a shot at left-back.

AND in different information, Marsch might unearth Leeds’ personal Iniesta by unleashing “magic” teenage “aim machine”…