Daniel Farke (Credit: Imago)
Daniel Farke revealed the honest conversation he had with one Leeds United player in particular after they signed for the club last summer.
Whilst stars like Jaka Bijol and Anton Stach have raised the ceiling of the current Leeds squad, the 49ers made sure to also add some quality depth to it, which Farke has lacked at times during his tenure.
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James Justin is certainly one who falls into this category; however, the Englishman has seen a spike in his gametime in recent months due to his flexibility and impressive performances when he has played.
But Farke was especially honest with one signing in particular, and the role he would play for Leeds upon their first season back in the top-flight.
Daniel Farke opens up about “backup” talk with Sebastiaan Bornauw
Bornauw, 27, has been a useful backup option for Farke to have for his backline, and the Belgian has impressed in the vast majority of appearances he has made this season.
However, with Farke recently revealing that Joe Rodon has picked up an ankle injury and will miss the game against Manchester United, and Bijol is also a doubt for the trip to Old Trafford, Bornauw looks like he is certain to feature in the Whites’ upcoming game on Monday.
Farke spoke glowingly about Bornauw in his pre-match press conference, and whilst the defender has been limited to just four Premier League starts this season, he was described as a “key player” by his manager.
“Bornauw is also a top-class character. We spoke about how he could be a back-up option; he can play in all three centre-back positions or even at full-back if needed.
“We have a pretty good points average when he starts, too. A key player is not just someone like Ethan Ampadu or Pascal Struijk who plays every second; you also need players whenever you need them, and they step up.
“It is a sign of his character and quality. We have more than 23 squad members, not all can play, but he’s still a very important player for us.”
Bornauw’s importance to this Leeds squad looks set to grow even further, and the defender could be set to play an unexpectedly large role in the run-in, with Rodon likely out injured until May.
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Data suggests Sebastiaan Bornauw was solid in his most recent appearance
Bornauw was subbed on in the quarter-final of the FA Cup for Leeds during their clash with West Ham following an injury to Rodon, which occurred in the 52nd minute.
Despite not making a single appearance in just under a month, Bornauw slid into the team seamlessly and delivered a solid performance as the Whites booked their place at Wembley.
During his 68-minute cameo, Bornauw made six defensive contributions, which were made up of one tackle, two interceptions and three clearances
Bornauw also contested three duels whilst he was on the pitch and won two of them
The defender also completed seven of the 11 passes he attempted (Sofascore)
With the Belgian likely to be needed for the next few games at least, supporters will be hoping Bornauw can continue to churn out similar performances as Leeds battle to stay in the Premier League.
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