Championship

Leeds must go back in for Stockdale

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Image for Leeds must go back in for Stockdale

OPINION

Leeds United suffered a damaging injury blow this week after reserve goalkeeper Jamal Blackman fractured his leg playing for the Under-23s against Birmingham.

Blackman is now set to return to parent club Chelsea to recover from the injury, leaving the Whites desperately short between the sticks in the run up to the January transfer window.

First-choice stopper Bailey Peacock-Farrell is now backed up by untested duo Kamil Miazek and Will Huffer, meaning a January swoop for a new addition is key.

Peacock-Farrell himself has come under pressure in recent weeks after a string of uncertain displays, so Leeds could in fact kill two birds with one stone with a move for the right player.

One clear option is Birmingham City stopper David Stockdale, with the Whites in fact in talks to sign the 33-year-old in the summer, with a deal collapsing at the last minute.

Stockdale has since been frozen out at St. Andrews, with a short loan spell at Southend representing his only playing time of the season so far.

Leeds-born Stockdale is a goalkeeper of high quality with vast experience in the Championship who represents a perfect option for the Whites in January.

In signing him, Leeds will both replace Blackman and sign a goalkeeper who is able to push Peacock-Farrell for the number one jersey, which will be key heading into the latter part of the season.

The youngster’s mistakes will soon begin to cost Leeds, and having an experienced hand available in Stockdale will seriously boost their chances of promotion.

With Birmingham likely to try and offload Stockdale again, Leeds must now move quickly to sign the 33-year-old in a no-brainer January deal

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