Hard decision’: Phil Hay says Daniel Farke has one really big selection dilemma for Leeds United vs Leicester
Phil Hay believes Daniel Farke’s toughest selection dilemma for Leeds United’s trip to Leicester City is at right-back.
Hay was speaking on the latest episode of the Square Ball Podcast, where he was previewing Leeds’ toughest match of the season so far at the King Power Stadium tonight.
Providing Crysencio Summerville, Joe Rodon and Sam Byram all came through Wednesday’s training session without any problems, Farke has no new injury worries to contend with.
That is likely to see him stick with much of the same team that demolished Huddersfield Town 4-1 at Elland Road last weekend, a game in which Leeds raced into a 4-0 half-time lead.
Jamie Shackleton returned to the side for the first time since late September against the Terriers, replacing Archie Gray at right-back, who had started the last three matches in that position.
Hay says right-back is Farke’s biggest selection call
Discussing whether Farke would make any changes for tonight’s match, Hay feels the biggest selection dilemma is who to start from Shackleton and Gray, though he is expecting an unchanged side.
He said: “I think it’s quite a hard decision on the basis of the disparity between Leicester and Huddersfield is huge. In no way are you talking about the same standard of opposition. With Shackleton, you have to take a sober decision.
“On Saturday against he looked as good at right back as Archie Gray did against Bristol City, but Bristol City are a better side than Huddersfield. You might actually say Gray’s performance was superior and you need to be careful not to read too much into that Shackleton display. Having played that steady, I do think it would make sense to go with the same XI.”
It is certainly a difficult call as both have struggled at right-back in the difficult away games. Shackleton had a tough afternoon at Southampton, while Gray was far from his best at Stoke and Norwich City.
That said, Gray was handed a rest for last week’s West Yorkshire derby and so that should mean he comes into this one with fresh legs after a hectic recent schedule.
For that reason, Gray should get the nod in the hope his physical stature will allow him to cope with what Leicester’s attacking players throw at him.
