Ex-Leeds ace Adam Clayton was axed from Middlesbrough’s 18-man squad on Saturday.
Thomas Christiansen’s Leeds United have lacked a steeliness to their midfield in their past few outings and Championship opposition have begun to use it to their advantage.
Friday night’s 2-1 defeat to Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United proved just that, as the Blades crowded out the middle of the park before getting the ball wide and feeding Billy Sharp and Leon Clarke.
Ronaldo Vieira was handed start after impressing against Bristol City but nerves affected the teenager’s performance, while Eunan O’Kane was out-muscled by the Blades’ physicality in the middle of the park – namely Chris Basham and Paul Coutts.
It has seen the Whites lose five of their last seven outings, and Christiansen must begin deliberating with director of football Victor Orta over adding a bit of tenacity to his central midfield options.
Orta orchestrated 16 summer deals for new players, but 11 of those were from overseas clubs and adding Championship experience could be key to Leeds’ promotion hopes.
That should turn Orta’s attention straight towards Middlesbrough midfielder Adam Clayton, who was axed from Garry Monk’s squad that beat Reading 2-0 on Saturday.
The tough-tackling midfielder, who played for Leeds for two years between 2010 and 2012, had played every single of Boro’s Championship encounters before being an unused substitute against Cardiff during the week and then omitted completely on the weekend.
The Shields Gazette described the move by ex-Leeds boss Monk as a “shock omission”, and claim that Boro’s number eight could find it hard to regain his place in the side with competition provided by Grant Leadbitter, Jonny Howson and Adam Forshaw.
It could tempt the 28-year-old to look elsewhere, and a return to Elland Road could be a move that suits all parties involved.
Clayton has promotion experience from his time with Boro, and that knowledge could prove priceless in helping Leeds end their 13-year stay in the Football League by finally returning to the Premier League.
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