The Wales defender has been integral to Leeds United's rise, but faces uncertainty once back fit
Joe Rodon is not expected back until November
Joe Rodon is not expected back until November(Image: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
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There are many superlatives to hand Leeds United so far this season and one of them comes in defence.
Supporters worried when they saw Joe Rodon crumple in a heap after pulling up with a hamstring problem post-sprint against Brentford. It also prompted a slight change of transfer tack in the boardroom.
Melvin Bard had already been on the radar but Rodon’s injury, and the extent of it (eight to 10 weeks recovery), prompted the club to press the go-button.
Leeds has needed a back-up left-back for some time and Rodon’s issue only highlighted the sparsity at the back amid James Justin’s utilityman services.
He could not cover three positions at once. Justin, a right-back by trade, has not actually played in his natural position since March, both due to Jayden Bogle’s levels and the need to cover elsewhere.
He began this season at left-back amid Gabriel Gudmundsson’s hamstring injury. It is no guarantee he would have started every game so far but for that and Rodon’s injury. But now, he is undroppable.
Joe Rodon hobbled off vs Brentford after 33 minutes
Joe Rodon hobbled off vs Brentford after 33 minutes(Image: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
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Justin, a right-sided centre-back in the three-man defence, has been in tremendous form. Focus will be placed on his goal - his second of the season - against Arsenal.
His overlaps and underlaps for Bogle are notable and problematic for opposition defences but so is his general defensive positioning behind the wing-back. His task to essentially play in the right-back slot allows Bogle to get forward and even cut inside into the number 10 area.
Justin’s football intelligence has been hailed by Farke and it is indeed a main facet of his; knowing when to overlap and when to stay back - all while getting his head on balls in both boxes and getting his foot in.
For an initial £8million fee, he is a bargain buy. So is Nico Elvedi. The centre-back cost around £6.8m but has played like a player at least double that value. Nobody would be able to tell it is his first Premier League season.
That should not come as too much of a surprise given his extensive international experience for Switzerland (77 caps), having played every minute of his country’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals - but success is never guaranteed.
Ironically, if it was not for Sebastiaan Bornauw’s request to leave, there is no guarantee Leeds would have swooped for Elvedi. He has certainly been an upgrade.
Nico Elvedi
Nico Elvedi(Image: Maynard Manyowa/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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His final-third play has also been impressive, while £34m. Tarik Muharemovic already has a Leeds goal for himself. Yet it is the Bosnian's consistency in defending that is getting fans purring.
The 23-year-old kept Bukayo Saka at bay with relative ease for an hour against Arsenal, and was able to get passes away when put under pressure by James Trafford’s risky balls. He is not the complete package yet, which only further excites.
But it is not Muharemovic nor Elvedi who is currently taking up Rodon’s spot in the team, but Justin at right centre-back. There is no guarantee Rodon gets back in once he is fit.
Leeds have conceded just five goals in six Premier League games - a joint league-low tally. One could argue Justin is more natural in the role than Rodon, given the forward-bombing requirements Farke bestows on the role.
Rodon - who has been seen galavanting down the wing - is a centre-back by nature. He is also a leader. Justin is too, the pair being part of the core leadership group. But so is Jaka Bijol, and he cannot get a start for Leeds right now.
This scenario is a fantastic headache to have. Rodon could play in the centre slot but Elvedi does not deserve to be dropped and it risks putting Bijol’s nose out of joint, given the central slot is his favourite.
This all to say that Rodon - who has scarcely missed a game under Farke - faces a tough task to get back into the side amidst his rare injury. History suggests he will at some point, given what else he offers the team besides his skillset; experience and leadership.
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But so does Justin. And right now, he is arguably the most in-form defender. The ceiling of the squad has been raised and Rodon may feel the impact of this when he returns initially.