Jaka Bijol has played his first two Premier League games since the last international break
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
11:17, 06 Nov 2025
Jaka Bijol
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Jaka Bijol(Image: Harry Murphy/Getty Images)
Slovenia national team head coach Matjaz Kek says he hopes Daniel Farke will retain Jaka Bijol in his Leeds United line-up for Sunday’s trip to Nottingham Forest.
Bijol had not earned his Premier League debut the last time he was called up by his country but has since played his first home and away English top-flight games - the 2-1 win over West Ham United and the 3-0 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion.
The centre-back will play for Slovenia again this break, with his nation needing to beat Kosovo at home a week on Saturday to keep their World Cup qualification hopes alive. Kek has hailed Bijol’s mentality during his period on the bench for Leeds.
Daniel Farke was pleased his £15million summer signing was able to keep his match fitness at a sustained level throughout United’s first eight games by representing his country, and Kek believes this played a role in the German giving Bijol his Premier League bow.
Kek told Dnevnik: “Some of Bijol's reactions in four national team matches in September and October showed how welcome playing time is in clubs. With the right thinking, which Jaka also showed, a lot can be compensated for.
“He is the best example of how to play for the national team when there is a lack of playing time. I hope that the latest defeat by Leeds will not affect his status in the team. In the Slovenian national team, the best generations have never had ideal playing time.”
Bijol had helped Slovenia keep three clean sheets against Switzerland (twice) and Kosovo over the past two international breaks. The 26-year-old’s sole appearance for Leeds before his Premier League debut came in the League Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in August.
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The defender did soundly on his maiden Premier League appearance but was often stretched against Brighton. Farke has previously outlined that he does not like to change his centre-back pairing too often but could give more selection detail in Friday's press conference.
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