Slovenia manager Matjaž Kek is pleased that Jaka Bijol has started to get minutes at Leeds United.
Kek has included the centre-back in his squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Kosovo and Sweden this month.
Wednesday’s edition of Dnevnik have covered comments made by the national team boss, and he spoke about the Leeds United player.
Bijol joined the Whites from Udinese in June, and initially found it difficult to get game time under Daniel Farke. He made his debut for Leeds United in their EFL Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in August.
Farke left him on the bench in the Premier League until after October’s international break. Although Kek wasn’t thrilled with the 26-year-old’s situation at Elland Road, he included him in the squad for the last two international breaks.
The defender waited until October 24th to make his Premier League debut against West Ham United. He then made his second league start for Leeds United at the weekend.
Kek is pleased with Farke’s decision to count on the Slovenia international in the last two matches. He mentioned this when asked how important was it for Bijol to enjoy minutes at Leeds United.
“Some of Bijol’s reactions in four national team games in September and October showed how welcome playing time is at clubs. With the right thinking, which Jaka also showed, a lot can be compensated for,” he said.
“He’s the best example of how you play for the national team when you lack playing time. I hope that Leeds’ latest defeat will not affect his status in the team. In the Slovenian national team, the best generations have never had ideal playing time.”
Whilst Bijol was able to compensate for his lack of minutes, Kek is happy that Farke is finally using Slovenia’s star defender.