It’s still early in the 2024-25 season, but Leeds United are facing an injury crisis in their midfield and their center-back depth is thinning following the injuries to Maximilian Wöber and Ethan Ampadu.
As a result, manager Daniel Farke wants to test out a particular player to see if he’s versatile enough to play center-back. Leeds have Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk, but there isn’t much behind them, so if either player goes down with an injury or suspension, Leeds will have to hit the panic button.
Should Farke need to create his own depth due to the January transfer window still being months away, he’s prepared to take an intriguing turn on who to count on to play center-back.
Could Daniel Farke look to deploy Sam Byram at CB?
Although Farke has repeatedly indicated that James Debayo is prepared to play if needed this season, Leeds Live journalist Beren Cross thinks the German coach would choose to play Sam Byram out of position instead.
“Byram’s probably the way I think he would go,” Cross said on the Square Ball YouTube channel. “He’s mentioned in the past that Byram can do a job there when they’ve been on the bare bones. He’s talked Debayo up publically just to keep his confidence up if the time does come. But I think you’re right, I think he would always look to go Byram in the first instance.”
While he may not have extensive experience playing center-back, Byram brings valuable knowledge and experience that could benefit the Leeds defense if needed.
The 31-year-old has loads of Championship experience and as the Whites aim for promotion back to the Premier League this season, his expertise will be vital, even though he hasn’t started a Championship match yet.
Debayo is an up-and-coming young talent, but it could be challenging to include him in the starting XI if either Struijk or Rodon gets injured. Farke will need to ask himself whether to make the player more versatile or trust a young player if more injuries or suspensions emerge for the rest of the year heading into the January window.
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