Inside Elland: Road Defensive problems
Leeds United man Jaka Bijol has arguably enjoyed international football more than club football this season but both could collide next week in Stockholm.
The giant defender has played just four games for Leeds since his move from Serie A side Udinese in the summer. Bijol was identified as a player whose aerial ability and experience could make him a starter in the Premier League. But a suspension that he carried over from Italian football cost him his place in the team for the opener against Everton and then Pascal Struijk and Joe Rodon's form kept the new boy on the bench.
Bijol's first taste of English football came in an embarrassing Carabao Cup exit at the hands of an under-strength Sheffield Wednesday and then he didn't play again until October 24 when he took Struijk's place for the 2-1 win over West Ham. That game proved to be the highlight so far for Bijol, who struggled alongside a number of his team-mates in the 3-0 defeat at Brighton and subsequent 3-1 loss at Nottingham Forest. The centre-back's defending for the second goal was highlighted by ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher as problematic, giving his failure to pick up goalscorer Morgan Gibbs-White.
Where Bijol has enjoyed defensive solidity and regular starts this season is in the colours of his national team. The 26-year-old has been ever-present for Slovenia in all four of their World Cup qualifying games, with three draws and one defeat. In October he helped them to successive clean sheets in the 0-0 stalemates with Kosovo and Switzerland.
Slovenia sit third in the Group B table with two games remaining. Leaders Switzerland have 10 points, Kosovo are second with seven, Slovenia have three and Sweden just one. On Saturday night Bijol and his compatriots host Kosovo, then on Tuesday night they travel to Stockholm. He expects a tough international break but he's relishing the chance to join up with his national side team-mates.
“We have a really tough two games coming up, especially the first one,” said Bijol. “I think it is going to be quite offensive from their side because we have to win that game but we are playing at home with our fans, so it is going to be a hard game but an enjoyable one. I really enjoy going with my national team, playing these hard games and spending time with my teammates.”
Next week when Slovenia take on Sweden there is a chance of a Thorp Arch reunion. Gabriel Gudmundsson's involvement has been shrouded in doubt after he missed a training session this week, but Fotboll Skanalen reports that he was back on the grass with his Sweden team-mates on Friday as they prepare to take on Switzerland on Saturday night.
“That will be a difficult match, playing in Sweden," said Bijol. "They have a quality team and even if these qualifiers didn’t go as planned for them, they have a new coach and will want to show their best side. It will be nice to see Gabi again too and then we will travel back to Leeds together after.”
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