OPINION
Leeds United continued their uninspiring run of form under Paul Heckingbottom with a 1-1 draw against relegation candidates Sunderland on Saturday, and a red card for Gaetano Berardi meant it was an even more disappointing result for the Whites.
The Swiss defender was sent off after 90 minutes for a reckless two-footed challenge on Callum McManaman, being shown a straight red card for the tackle.
It was the third time in the Championship this season that the 29-year-old has been given his marching orders, and as reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post, that means that he is now set to miss the rest of the season.
FA rules stipulate increasing punishment for repeat red card offenders, with the automatic three-match ban increasing by one for every additional sending off, meaning Berardi is set to be banned for five games.
His punishment is set to be confirmed by the FA on Monday, and with Leeds only having five games left in the season that means he is set to be ruled out until the start of next campaign.
Berardi was deputising at left-back for Leeds on Saturday, with Laurens de Bock currently sidelined through injury, and Vurnon Anita was brought on to replace him for the final moments.
However, Heckingbottom must hand rarely-seen youngster Tom Pearce the chance to make the left-back spot his own in the last five games of the season, and not persist with the ineffective Anita.
Pearce made his Whites bow earlier this season, and put in an accomplished display despite Leeds falling to a 2-1 loss to Sheffield Wednesday.
He has been on the bench on several other occasions under Heckingbottom, but that 77 minutes against the Owls is the only game time he has seen so far.
Now is the perfect time for Pearce to be properly blooded into the Leeds first-team, with the squad offering no better option at left-back.
De Bock is injured and Anita has been terrible this season and should be sold this summer, leaving Pearce as the clear choice to start their last five games.
Furthermore, the Whites have nothing to lose in these upcoming fixtures, with their promotion hopes having disappeared long ago.
Pearce has shown enough to be given a chance, and if he doesn’t get a chance to impress now, then when will he ever get to do so?
It is a clear choice for Heckingbottom, who would be massively missing a trick if he fails to take it.