Has Leeds United boss made a big mistake?

Follow us on Google Discover

Pontus Jansson fell injured in Leeds United’s defeat at Millwall on Saturday.

Leeds United lost 1-0 at Millwall on Saturday for their first defeat of the season. To make matters worse, the Whites finished the game with 10 men after Pontus Jansson pulled up with a suspected hamstring injury.

Given that his usual centre-back partner Liam Cooper missed out through injury, the last thing head coach Thomas Christiansen needs is to miss Jansson for an extended period.

But that looks a distinct possibility and Christiansen might well regret not bringing in an experienced centre-back when he had the chance.

At this moment in time, it looks like 21-year-old Conor Shaughnessy, in his first season in Leeds’ senior squad, is the club’s only fit centre-back.

Matthew Pennington remains sidelined but close to a return, but he has only ever played one Championship game – the 3-2 win at Bolton on the first day of the season.

Cooper, according to Christiansen, could be back in time for the clash with Ipswich Town next weekend, but either way he could be partnering a rookie in central defence – or a make-shift option like Luke Ayling – if Jansson’s prognosis isn’t good.

Christiansen elected against signing another central defender by virtue of Shaughnessy’s promising emergence but even he might wonder if he made the right call on that one now.

Before today, Leeds hadn’t conceded a single goal when Jansson was on the field and fans should be hoping and praying that the big Swede isn’t out for long.