Noel Whelan is a big fan of the Leeds United defender.
Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds, Noel Whelan believes that Leeds United head coach Thomas Christiansen will go back to the same defence which has helped the Whites move top of the Championship when Ipswich Town visit Elland Road tomorrow.
The Tractor Boys visit Yorkshire in a game which will see Leeds hope to bounce back from their 1-0 defeat away to Millwall last weekend and stay top of the division.
Liam Cooper, arguably the Whites’ best player this season, missed the trip to London, while Pontus Jansson limped off injured toward the end of that setback in two big worries for Christiansen and indeed supporters.
The centre-back pairing haven’t conceded a Championship goal when both have been on the pitch together this season, but they are expected back for the visit of Mick McCarthy’s side.
Luke Ayling stepped into central defence alongside Conor Shaughnessy for the League Cup win over Burnley on Tuesday, but Whelan believes that the right-back, whom he claims was “exceptional” at Turf Moor, will revert to his best position and believes Vurnon Anita will displace left-back Gaetano Berardi from midweek.
He told BBC Radio Leeds: “I actually can’t see too many changes, even though everybody was exceptional the other night. I think he’ll go back to Cooper and Jansson.
“Ayling will go back into right-back. He was just exceptinoal again. What a leader and he’s come on leaps and bounds and we can see why he’s the vice-captain to Liam Cooper this year.
“Left-back, I can only see Anita playing there as well. I think it’ll be your normal back four tomorrow.”
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