Leeds United boss Paul Heckingbottom dropped Laurens De Bock for Vurnon Anita at the weekend.
With Laurens De Bock looking unconvincing in Leeds’ draw with Derby County last week, Paul Heckingbottom decided to give Vurnon Anita a chance at left-back for Brentford’s visit to Elland Road on Saturday.
Anita did well in the 1-0 win that lifted the Whites to within five points of the play-off spots. But Leeds fans know all too well that persevering with the former Newcastle ace is a gamble.
Along with Gaetano Berardi, Anita was a player that Thomas Christiansen used fairly regularly at left-back despite the fact that it is not his favoured position or even on his favoured side of the pitch.
And while Anita played well in the role sometimes, there were also some performances that highlighted how important it was that Leeds uncovered a natural left-back. But with the Netherlands international impressing against the Bees, Heckingbottom may perhaps be tempted to keep faith with Anita for the trip to Middlesbrough on Friday.
And perhaps an event in Boro’s draw with Sunderland at the weekend would mean that sticking with Anita may not actually be as big a gamble as it would have initially appeared.
Tony Pulis’ men played out a dramatic draw with the Black Cats that involved both sides having a man sent off, with Boro losing Adama Traore following a clash with Bryan Oviedo.
On his day, Traore is arguably a winger capable of terrifying opposition full-backs, and he may have been a player that Heckingbottom was expecting to have to make plans for, even if he does struggle for consistency.
But with the Spaniard suspended, Boro may well be a lot less threatening down Leeds’ left flank and thus, it may make a lot more sense to keep faith with Anita given his decent performance in the weekend win.
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