Inside Elland Road: Longstaff and Rodon partnership
Jaka Bijol has started Leeds United's last two Premier League games after remaining patient for his chance.
Slovenia national team boss Matjaž Kek has been pleased to see defender Jaka Bijol work his way into the Leeds United team after a slice of selection fortune.
Bijol was expected to come straight in as a first-choice centre-back at Leeds following his £15million transfer from Udinese, but Farke made him wait. The Whites boss remained loyal to Championship title-winning pair Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk who both started the season in impressive form.
“The team is starting to play well, they are not conceding goals, why would he change?” the Slovenia boss said. “Add to that an unfortunate match in the cup [against Sheffield Wednesday] and things have come together like this. He has to get used to it, adapt and at a certain point have a little luck too."
Bijol possibly got that slice of luck in the build-up to last month’s home game against West Ham, with Struijk taken ill during the week after a couple of slightly under-par performances. The 26-year-old took his chance with a solid centre-back showing alongside Rodon in a 2-1 win.
Farke stuck with that partnership for last weekend’s disappointing 3-0 defeat at Brighton and with one more fixture to come before the November international break, it will be interesting to see if he sticks or twists again. But after naming Bijol in his Slovenia squad for that upcoming break, Kek hopes a poor result on the south coast isn’t the catalyst for more change.
Manager’s Jaka Bijol Leeds United hope ahead of November break
“Some of Bijol’s reactions in four national team games in September and October showed how welcome playing time is at clubs,” he told Slovenian outlet Dnevnik. ”With the right thinking, which Jaka also showed, a lot can be compensated for.
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“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.”
The November international break is a huge one for Bijol and Slovenia, who still have a chance of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup despite failing to win any of their first four qualifiers. They are currently third in Group B on three points, with a massive game against second-placed Kosovo on Saturday November 15.
Victory would pull Slovenia to within one point of current second-place Kosovo, who face Group B leaders Switzerland in the final group game while Bijol’s side face rock-bottom Sweden. Whoever finishes second will earn a spot in a play-off round for next summer’s World Cup finals.
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