David Prutton is concerned about Leeds United defender Pontus Jansson given he is one booking away from a two-match ban and urged him not to change his style of play.
The 26-year-old centre-back has already picked up nine yellow cards this season and one more will result in a two-match ban, something the Whites will be keen to avoid as captain Liam Cooper is currently sidelined through suspension.
He is renowned for being a no-nonsense defender that loves a tackle and that often sees his name end up in the referee’s book.
However, Jansson was criticised by a selection of supporters earlier in the season for his inconsistent performances and they felt he lost his edge.
The Sweden international is certainly back in their good books and a mainstay in Thomas Christiansen’s starting XI.
Prutton, who regularly works as a pundit for Sky Sports, has admitted that Jansson is currently in a precarious position as he sits on the edge of a domestic ban.
“There was a bit of talk about a centre-back coming in too (in January), and Pontus Jansson is obviously now one yellow card away from getting a two-game ban,” he wrote in his column for the Yorkshire Evening Post.
“We saw last season that picking up yellow cards was obviously to Jansson’s detriment but at the start of the season easing off a little bit changed him as a player. From that point of view it’s a really tough proposition.”
OPINION
It is vital Leeds don’t lose Jansson during Cooper’s absence, but that can’t impact the way he plays on the pitch. First and foremost Christiansen’s side need to return to winning ways quickly as they are beginning to fall off the pace after a dreadful start to 2018. They are currently four points adrift of the play-off spots and were at one point behind mentioned as potential candidates for the automatic spots. Leeds host fourth-placed Cardiff at the weekend in a pivotal match and a win in that clash could be the perfect catalyst to go on a winning run they desperately need.