Stuart Dallas has offered his view on the battle Leeds United's Joe Rodon could face when he returns from injury
Stuart Dallas has conceded Leeds United’s Joe Rodon will have a battle on his hands upon his return from injury.
Rodon has been an almost ever-present since his arrival at Elland Road from Tottenham Hotspur back in the summer of 2023.
He has accumulated 139 appearances for the Whites, establishing himself among Daniel Farke’s most trusted lieutenants.
However, he is currently out of action with a hamstring problem and may not return until the latter stages of the month.
James Justin, Tarik Muharemović and Nico Elvedi have comprised Leeds’ central back three of late and impressed, with Jaka Bijol consigned to the bench.
Stuart Dallas has offered his view on the battle Leeds United's Joe Rodon could face when he returns from injury.placeholder image
Stuart Dallas has offered his view on the battle Leeds United's Joe Rodon could face when he returns from injury. | Bruce Rollinson & Steve Riding
Stuart Dallas on Joe Rodon
If the aforementioned quartet are still fit when Rodon returns, Whites boss Daniel Farke could have quite the selection dilemma.
Leeds cult hero Dallas, who spent nearly a decade on the books in LS11 before retiring in 2024, told The Yorkshire Post: “Joe has been a mainstay in the team since he arrived, he’s barely missed a training session and he’s put his body on the line time and time again.
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“To get the injury would have been disappointing for him, but this is part of the game now, being at a club who have built a really strong squad so that when somebody of Joe’s quality goes out, they have the same quality coming in. That’s what makes you a good team.
“For sure Joe will have a battle on his hands when he’s fit again, but let’s not take away from the qualities he has. He has been fantastic for the club. It’s a good headache for Daniel Farke to have, it’s great to have competition for places within the club, they drive each other on and it raises standards.”
Leeds United’s centre-back back options
Much has been made of Muharemović’s impact since his £34m switch from Sassuolo but Justin and Elvedi have also looked incredibly assured.
Justin is a full-back by trade who has proven he can excel centrally, while Elvedi has slotted in seamlessly since his move from Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Tarik Muharemović joined Joe Rodon in Leeds United’s centre-back pool in the summer.placeholder image
Tarik Muharemović joined Joe Rodon in Leeds United’s centre-back pool in the summer. | Dustin Satloff/Getty Images
Dallas said: “James Justin can fill in there too and he has been outstanding since he came from Leicester, he goes under the radar every week. Tarik Muharemović has been outstanding too even though he came with pressure. When you pay that money you expect him to perform and he had big boots to fill in for Pascal Struijk. He’s been fantastic and he is so good on the ball.
“On the other side Elvedi was thrown in at the deep end when Joe got injured, but he comes from good pedigree with so many international caps, that shows he’s a good player. Sometimes an injury means you unearth someone more than capable playing at this level.”