OPINION
Leeds United will need to start preparations for a crucial fixture against Sheffield United next weekend despite the current search for a new manager and are currently facing a defensive crisis.
The Whites are set to be without senior players Gaetano Berardi, Liam Cooper and Pontus Jansson for the Championship match, but should give a surprise recall to Vurnon Anita to fix their problem.
Leeds fans can only hope a swift appointment is made at Elland Road as they look for a successor to recently sacked Thomas Christiansen, but the players must be gearing up for a huge weekend mach.
The Yorkshire giants travel to Sheffield United on Saturday afternoon and can’t afford to lose as they are already seven points adrift of the play-off positions.
Anita should be the player to get a reprieve due to Leeds’ absentees at the back and he fell down the pecking order under Christiansen in the past few months.
The 28-year-old defender is a versatile player that can fill in either full-back slot and should be deployed at right-back at Bramall Lane on Saturday.
He featured regularly in the early stages of the season following his free transfer from Newcastle, but fell out of favour and has been rarely seen since.
Anita has experienced promotion from the Championship with Newcastle before and bringing his experienced head into the side could be crucial during a difficult period.
The Dutchman certainly has the quality to cement his spot back in the side if given a run of games and the arrival of a new manager could certainly help him with that.