Mateusz Klich has struggled to hold down a place in the side since joining Leeds United, so perhaps Tuesday’s game could be a great opportunity.
Ever since Mateusz Klich arrived at Leeds in the summer, he has struggled to prove to Thomas Christiansen that he deserves a prolonged run in the team, only starting back-to-back games on one occasion so far.
The Poland international has made just seven appearances in all competitions for the Whites, featuring just three times to date in the Championship and not even making the matchday squad for the previous two league games.
But perhaps he will be given the chance to improve his situation at Elland Road when Derby visit in the Championship on Tuesday night.
Having picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in the defeat to Sheffield United on Friday night, Kalvin Phillips will miss the game with the Rams due to a one-match suspension, so perhaps Thomas Christiansen will turn to Klich to fill the void.
Given that Phillips has played further forward in the last couple of games, Christiansen may look to give one of his more attacking players a chance to replace the Whites’ top goalscorer, but perhaps Klich may come into his thinking if he wishes to put a third central midfielder in the side to maintain the balance of the team.
If he is given a chance, you would imagine that Klich will have to take it with both hands and put in the kind of display that the fans saw at Burnley in the Carabao Cup when the 27-year-old took many plaudits from the supporters.
Phillips will surely come back in at the weekend, but Klich can put some serious pressure on him and the likes of Ronaldo Vieira and Eunan O’Kane if he shines against Gary Rowett’s men.
And there can be no doubt that having four central midfielders genuinely pushing each other will boost Leeds’ chances of putting their recent disappointing run behind them and capitalising on their promising position in the table.
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