Paul Robinson has backed Josuha Guilavogui to stand up in Pascal Struijk’s absence following a second devastating injury setback at Leeds United.
Daniel Farke has announced that the Dutch centre-back might be out for up to three months due to a new hamstring injury. He was unable to play Sheffield Wednesday in his last outing at Elland Road.
In his absence, Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu linked up, like they did last season, but the genuine answer could be 34-year-old Guilavogui, who played in defence against Harrogate Town in the FA Cup.
Robinson told MOT Leeds News: “It’s a huge setback, especially as vice-captain. But Ampadu has returned to the club, and he is one of the greatest footballers in the Championship, with a brilliant mind and versatility.
“He can return to the centre of defence alongside Joe Rodon, although they are a little short in that position. Guilavogui played in the FA Cup against Harrogate, which surprised me.
“With Pascal Struijk out, it’s obviously a big blow, but the squad can cope for a couple of weeks.”
Josuha Guilavogui: the answer to Leeds United’s injury blow?
While the Frenchman is a natural midfielder, his defensive abilities would allow him to stay in the middle, where he is significantly more efficient against Championship opponents.
Guilavogui has played for clubs such as Atletico Madrid, Saint-Etienne, Wolfsburg, and Mainz before joining Leeds to assist fill any gaps in the team.
That is exactly what he can be used for today if Struijk is sidelined by another big injury, but Farke is much more likely to stick with the tried-and-true than experiment.
