Leeds star can be on borrowed time if he flops vs Burnley

Leeds United have made a reasonably spectacular begin to life within the Premier League this season after they received the Championship title with 100 factors final time period.

Daniel Farke received his third promotion in 4 seasons from the second tier, hitting a century of factors, however had beforehand struggled within the top-

flight throughout his time at Norwich Metropolis.

The German head coach’s file within the Premier League, as proven within the desk above, didn’t fill many with hope that he can be able to main the crew to security this season.

Nonetheless, the Whites have picked up eight factors from their first seven video games of the season, and have been last-gasp objectives towards Fulham and Bournemouth away from having one other three factors on the board.

Farke is displaying that he can coach a crew to be aggressive and efficient at Premier League stage, however Leeds should keep their competitiveness for the rest of the marketing campaign to keep away from relegation.

The work that was performed by the 49ers in the course of the summer season switch window has performed a key position within the membership’s success on the pitch this season, as gamers like Dominic Calvert-Lewin have added one thing completely different to the crew.

Why Dominic Calvert-Lewin is undroppable for Leeds

The previous England worldwide was introduced in on a free switch from Everton in the course of the summer season switch window to bolster Farke’s choices on the prime finish of the pitch.

It’s honest to say that he has not had the most effective begin to life in West Yorkshire in entrance of objective. He has scored one objective and missed a whopping 9 ‘huge possibilities’, per Sofascore, which exhibits that the English striker has been extremely wasteful within the last third.

Regardless of his struggles in entrance of objective, Calvert-Lewin has already established himself as undroppable within the centre-forward place due to what he affords to the crew together with his bodily presence on the prime finish of the pitch.

As you may see within the desk above, the previous Toffees star affords considerably extra to the aspect than Joel Piroe, the participant who’s competing with him for a spot within the beginning XI.

Calvert-Lewin’s means to compete with opposition centre-backs, notably within the air, offers Leeds with the point of interest they want up entrance when beneath strain and in want of an outlet ball.

Now that they’re battling to keep away from relegation, the Whites want a striker who can relieve strain by duelling with defenders, which isn’t Joel Piroe’s recreation, as evidenced by the aforementioned statistics.

Subsequently, Calvert-Lewin’s energy within the quantity 9 place makes him undroppable for now, regardless that he does want to begin providing extra as a finisher.

While the 28-year-old striker ought to be deemed undroppable regardless of his ending struggles, there may be one other struggling Leeds participant who ought to be in peril of being dropped if he flops towards Burnley within the Premier League on Saturday.

The Whites journey to Turf Moor to tackle Scott Parker’s aspect this weekend, and it might be a giant match for central defender Pascal Struijk to indicate that he deserves to maintain his place.

Why Pascal Struijk could also be on borrowed time at Leeds

One other poor efficiency towards the Clarets might put the Dutch centre-back on borrowed time within the beginning line-up, as a result of a few of his shows have left a bit to be desired this season.

The left-footed defender was overwhelmed for each of Tottenham Hotspur’s objectives final outing within the 2-1 defeat to Thomas Frank’s crew, as each Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus labored room to fireplace pictures previous him and thru Karl Darlow.

Struijk was not the only participant at fault for these two objectives from the away aspect, however he was additionally sluggish to problem each gamers and will have performed extra to forestall the pictures from reaching the objective.

On prime of these errors towards Spurs, the previous Ajax teen has additionally struggled with the physicality of the Premier League since making the step up from the Championship this summer season.

Per Sofascore, Struijk has misplaced 62% of his floor duels and 54% of his aerial duels in seven appearances within the top-flight within the 2025/26 marketing campaign. This exhibits that opposition attackers have discovered it far too simple to get the higher of him in bodily battles.

The £50k-per-week star, whose sloppy passing was described as “poor” by Gary Taphouse final season, might be in peril of shedding his place within the beginning line-up if he doesn’t produce an improved efficiency towards Burnley, as a result of Farke has Jaka Bijol ready within the wings.

As you may see within the desk above, the Slovenia worldwide’s performances within the Serie A final season counsel that he might be an improve on what Struijk is at the moment providing from a defensive perspective.

Leeds splashed out £15m to signal Bijol from Udinese in the course of the summer season switch window, however he has been an unused substitute in all seven of the membership’s matches up to now this time period.

Bijol began each of his nation’s matches in the course of the worldwide break and stored two clear sheets in World Cup qualifiers towards Kosovo and Switzerland, which signifies that he returns to West Yorkshire this week off the again of a powerful fortnight of defensive work.

The towering Slovenian colossus is clearly, given his type within the Serie A and for his nation, a superb possibility for Farke to name upon if he decides {that a} change is required in defence.

For this reason Struijk should step up and produce a powerful show towards Burnley this weekend, as he could also be on borrowed time with Bijol ready to take his place.