A few Leeds United fans have been reacting on social media, after Marcelo Bielsa confirmed that he will be playing Ben White in midfield against Huddersfield Town to cover for the absent Kalvin Phillips.
White has featured in central defence for each of our Championship fixtures since his summer arrival on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, and is the only outfield Whites player to have seen out every minute of league action thus far.
Bielsa has been forced to consider adaptations from the eleven which beat Middlesbrough 4-0 last weekend, though, as Phillips was awarded his fifth yellow card of the campaign at home to Boro and will now miss one game through suspension.
Speaking at his pre-game press conference on Thursday, Bielsa confirmed that he intends to use White as his stand-in for Phillips when we travel to Huddersfield Town on Saturday afternoon.
“We are working with White on this position,” the boss said, via quotes by the club’s Twitter account. “He is going to substitute for Kalvin. It’s a new position for him, but he has the skills to play there.”
Is White the right man to replace Phillips in midfield?
Yes
No
White is yet to play in midfield for United, but was tasked with the holding role once during his loan spell with Newport County during the 2017/18 campaign. The Poole-born defender also played in the position once for Brighton’s U23s in a Premier League 2 encounter with Norwich City in April 2017.
He is a versatile defender, however, having also played five times at right-back for Brighton’s U23s and three times for Newport, while deployed on the left-hand side of defence four times during his loan spell at Rodney Parade.
Whether White can perform in the holding midfield role during a West Yorkshire Derby against a Huddersfield side keen to end a four-game winless run remains to be seen.
But White has recorded the fourth-most tackles outright of all United players in the Championship this season with 34 from 39 attempts, per WhoScored data, along with the most interceptions (50), shots blocked (10), fourth-most passes blocked (12) and third-most accurate long passes (62).
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to Bielsa confirming his use of White in the holding role ahead of facing Huddersfield…
Can’t say I’m feeling good about this, didn’t look comfortable Saturday and I think there’s better players who can play there. Don’t want to lose him at the back.
— Hussey ♠⛳ (@Ryan_Hussey) December 5, 2019
Meaning 2ft 5 berardi is CB
— Paul Milner (@paulmilner365) December 5, 2019
@ScottHCAFC95 it’s like having Robbie Fowler there
— Coxy (@jake_coxx) December 5, 2019
Jesus! this will be interesting
— JaCk tHe BiScUiT (@jackth3b15cu1t) December 5, 2019
Bielsa could play anyone there and turn them into a world class player
— Adam Green (@AdamGreen0823) December 5, 2019
Hate braking up a solid partnership at the back.. but trust the gaffa 👌👌 #mot
— WAFLL💙💛💙💛leeds united (@WAFLL3) December 5, 2019
In other Leeds United news, the club are eying a summer deal for a £15,000-per-week man whose created six big chances this season.