Leeds United: Glen Kamara ‘definite problem’ v Huddersfield, may be axed for Stoke – Phil Hay
Glen Kamara was a “definite problem” for Leeds United in the draw with Huddersfield Town in a way that he hasn’t been so far this season, says Phil Hay.
The Athletic reporter said on the Square Ball podcast (4 March) that the former Rangers midfielder had a significant dip in his otherwise strong form in the 1-1 result at the weekend as the Whites dropped Championship points for the first time in 2024.
He wasn’t surprised at all that Daniel Farke chose to replace the Finland international after an hour and suggested there is now the possibility of Archie Gray moving forward into his spot for the Tuesday night visit of Stoke City (5 March) in order to accommodate January loanee Connor Roberts’ leadership at right-back.
Hay said (7m 40s): “I think defensively Leeds were pretty good. [Joe] Rodon and [Ethan] Ampadu were really decent at the back. You would struggle to say anybody played really, really well out with those two I think…
“There was a definite problem with Kamara, or a definite issue. He’s been really good this season and he just seemed to be a little bit of a yard, or a foot, behind in thought, in a way that he normally isn’t.
“I totally expected him to come off when he was replaced.”
Glen Kamara off day to see midfielder lose Leeds United place for Connor Roberts?
Just like the team as a whole the outstanding run of form that virtually everyone had been showing since the turn of the year had to hit a bump eventually.
That it came on the same day that Leicester lost again meant it wasn’t as painful as it could have been, but wins for Southampton and Ipswich meant it didn’t go entirely unpunished.
Kamara’s late addition to the Whites squad, a day after Ilia Gruev from Werder Bremen, rounded out an incredibly successful response to Leeds United being left lacking an entire senior midfield following Premier League relegation, with the pair of singings following Ampadu in while Gray graduated from the academy to leave Farke with a foursome to envy within the second tier.
That the German has been able to field all four for a while now, since the teenager became the first-choice at right-back and former Chelsea man Ampadu dropped into injured Pascal Struijk’s spot in the back line, is unusual.
So at some point at least one is going to have to come out, whether it be for Roberts being upgraded to the first XI following his January arrival from Burnley, or the eventual return of match-day captain Struijk.
28-year-old right-back Roberts won the Championship title under Vincent Kompany last term, and immediately appeared fully-engaged as soon as he arrived, so it could well be the time to turn to that experience for the promotion run-in, and it may be that Kamara’s off day has come at the worst time for him after what has been an impressive debut campaign at Elland Road.
In other Leeds United news, a Whites talent has been hit by a major injury blow that will keep him out for months.
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