Is Felix Wiedwald a liability for Leeds United? Paul Heckingbottom doesn’t see a problem at the moment.
Leeds United boss Paul Heckingbottom told a pre-match press conference on Tuesday that he “can see no issue” with goalkeeper Felix Wiedwald at the moment.
The German made a costly mistake in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at home to Bristol City to reignite the debate over Leeds’ problems in this position.
It isn’t the first error that the former Werder Bremen keeper has made since his £500,000 summer move to Elland Road and in all likelyhood it won’t be his last.
Wiedwald was dropped by Heckingbottom’s predecessor Thomas Christiansen during the first half of the campaign, but Andy Lonergan proved to be a worse option between the sticks so the 27-year-old swiftly won his spot back.
The Whites visit promotion-chasing Derby County this evening and another defeat would surely put paid to Leeds’ increasingly-slim chances of finishing in the top six, but Heckingbottom has intimated that he will continue with Wiedwald – and fans of the West Yorkshire giants are surprised by his comments.
There is a very distinct possibility that Heckingbottom knows that Wiedwald is a problem, but admitting it publicly would be detrimental to the player’s confidence and therefore he was right to support the player.
But it’s important that Heckingbottom and Director of Football Victor Orta don’t support him during the summer and sign at least one top-class goalkeeper to displace Wiedwald.
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