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Rarely-seen Leeds United youngster Aapo Halme should be one of the players in contention to replace the injured Pontus Jansson at the heart of the defence when the Whites host Millwall at Elland Road on March 30, and the stats suggest he should feel aggrieved if he doesn’t get the nod.
On the chalkboard
There is no doubt that Jansson and captain Liam Cooper are Marcelo Bielsa’s first-choice centre-back pairing when fit and available, but the Argentine has been given a decision to make after the former was ruled out for up to three weeks after suffering a knee injury against Sheffield United last time out.
Gaetano Berardi and Kalvin Phillips look likely to be the frontrunners to replace the Sweden international in the backline, but Halme will also be looking to impress his manager on the training pitch over the next seven days or so.
The 20-year-old can point to the performances he has put in when called upon this term to back up his claim, given he has looked both calm and assured despite his tender years and lack of first-team experience.
Should he start?
It’s a difficult one for Bielsa in the circumstances, with Leeds desperately needing three points to try and work their way back into the automatic promotion positions.
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Phillips has shown that he can be sorely missed when not in a defensive midfield role and should remain there now Berardi is fit again after a long injury absence, and it makes sense if the choice is between the Swiss player and the young Finn for a starting XI spot.
Considering Halme has played his part in two wins and two clean sheets when he has played more than an hour – from the start against Bristol City and as a substitute for Cooper away at Sheffield United – this term, he has proven that he can step up when needed.
Whether he gets the chance to do the same in what is a huge clash against Millwall remains to be seen, but he probably has a case to feel aggrieved if he doesn’t.
