The Macedonian came through the ranks at Young Boys as a left-back.
Ezgjan Alioski of Leeds United
Leeds United have had something of a defensive shortage in recent weeks. Suspensions and injury have been an issue with the likes of Luke Ayling, Liam Cooper, Matthew Pennington, Conor Shaughnessy and Gaetano Berardi all having some involuntary time out.
Leeds have received some good news this week, with Pontus Jansson’s ankle injury not as serious as first thought, but given the current run of form in the Leeds defence the fear will be another injury is just around the corner.
But Leeds do have a rather unlikely candidate to help out should they find themselves in a similar situation in the near future.
Ezgjan Alioski of Leeds United looks on
It may not be a well-known fact, but right-winger Ezgjan Alioski in fact started his career as a left-back. The Macedonian came through the youth ranks as BSC Young Boys in Switzerland and did so whilst playing as an attack-minded full-back.
He then moved to Schaffhausen, where he was once again playing at left-back. It was not until legendary Czech coach Zdenek Zeman got a hold of him at Lugano that Alioski’s attacking qualities were better appreciated and he moved to the right-wing.
Leeds have a left-back in the form of Laurens De Bock, but he has the attributes to slide over to centre-back if need be or indeed in a back three – with Alioski at wing-back.
Wales player Aaron Ramsey (r) challenges Ezgjan Alioski of Macedonia
The maverick wide-man, who started the season in great form, has been struggling recently and Leeds might need to consider giving him a period of time out of the first-team.
But if injuries strike at the same level they have been than Leeds would be foolish not to fall back on Alioski’s footballing education as a full-back.
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