Djed Spence made his Leeds United debut on Saturday after completing his loan move from Tottenham and it seems Daniel Farke has a selection dilemma ahead of next week’s clash with Millwall

 

 

Daniel Farke won’t be short of selection headaches when it comes to putting his Leeds United starting XI together to face Millwall after the international break. The Whites bolstered their squad with five new signings over the last eight days of the window and fitting them all in looks like it could be tricky business.

 

 

 

There’s decisions to make in the front four, with Jaidon Anthony available and capable of stepping in, while the

midfield selection looks tough, too, with Ilia Gruev and Glen Kamara competing with Ethan Ampadu and Archie

Gray for spots in the line-up. However, perhaps one of the toughest choices the head coach will have to make comes

at right-back with both Luke Ayling and Djed Spence vying for a starting role.

 

 

Saturday’s choice was a little easier for Farke, given Spence hadn’t played a minute of competitive football prior to

his switch to Elland Road. As such, Ayling got the nod for the Whites and fared relatively well against Sheffield

Wednesday before he made way for Spence’s bow in the 81 ^st minute of the contest.

 

 

However, Spence’s cameo and a fortnight in training with his new teammates, looks set to bring him into starting contention and Farke knows he will have to upset one of his right-backs. So who does he select?

Well, let’s start with the man who has held the spot down for the entirety of the season so far, Ayling. There’s no denying that at 32, Ayling has struggled at times down the right hand side.

 

 

The defender has been asked to push forward with regularity this season, popping up so high in possession he could

be considered to be part of the Whites’ attacking line. But, such positioning leaves spaces in behind and Ayling has

struggled to get back and cover when the ball is played down the line.

That seems like a price to pay for the experience he offers, though, and he has worn the captain’s armband well in

Liam Cooper’s absence for a majority of the season. He’s the most experienced member of Farke’s starting XI by

some distance and that level-headedness and nous has been pivotal at times.

 

 

His presence on the right shoulder of 17-year-old Archie Gray has been key, too, helping the teenager out with his

positioning and offering advice when required. Such an asset could be vital at a ground like The Den, where

intimidating atmospheres regularly get the better of away teams.

 

 

Spence, on the other hand, showed exactly what he can bring during his nine minutes on the field against the Owls.

Within a minute or so of entering the field, the Tottenham Hotspur loaned displayed the pace required to get back

and save Leeds by making a last ditch tackle to deny Josh Windlass a goal scoring opportunity.

 

 

Speed is clearly a major part of Spence’s game, allowing him to get forward and join in the attack, and Farke

admitted after the game that he would have liked to have seen the 23-year-old push up to play in a more advanced

role at times. The right-back knows the Championship well and after a frustrating season last time around at his

parent club, he’ll be keen to get his career back on track and moving in the right direction once more.

 

 

He’s not inexperienced, racking up over 100 Championship appearances before his move to north London, during

his spells at Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest, but it remains to seen how quickly he settles into Leeds life after

last week’s switch.

The pair will be battling it out on the Thorp Arch training ground over the next two weeks and, while it would make

his selection even harder, Farke will be hoping that competition brings the best out of both.