OPINION
Leeds were hit with some pretty catastrophic news on Thursday when it was revealed that goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell was likely to miss the Championship game with Bristol City on Saturday.
That comes pretty shortly after their back-up keeper Jamal Blackman returned to parent club Chelsea after breaking his leg.
It leaves Leeds with just William Huffer or Kamil Miazek for the game on Saturday, neither of which have played for Leeds first-team before. Huffer hasn’t had any senior experience.
Blimey. Peacock-Farrell has a knee problem and is probably out of Bristol City. Bielsa expects that Huffer or Miazek will play. "I can't tell you about the possibility of bringing someone in." #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) November 22, 2018
However, it does mean that Leeds will definitely be looking for a new goalkeeper in January and a couple of names fit the bill.
The first is Tom Heaton, who has dropped down the pecking order at Burnley.
The second seems even more likely – Birmingham’s David Stockdale. He’s not required at Birmingham – so much so he was announced by Wycome today on an emergency loan. He’ll be available in January, if not for an emergency loan for Leeds in the short-term.
Bielsa was close to signing him over the summer and former player Andy Couzens has said that Stockdale would jump at the chance to hook up with Leeds.
Talking on the latest episode of the Talking Shutt podcast, Couzens said that he talked with Stockdale at the recent Josh Warrington fight.
“I was at the boxing ring with David when Josh Warrington was down here and we had a good chat. It was on the cards [the summer move]… Monk’s kind of said to him straight away, you’re not involved.
“But definitely 100% if Leeds United came in for him he would bite their hand off if Birmingham would do a deal. 100%.”
Heaton might be the number one choice for Leeds fans, but he’s reportedly on £35k-a-week.
Stockdale has a huge amount of experience, could cost a whole load less, and sounds like he would love to come and play at Leeds. It wouldn’t be a huge surprise if he was in goal for Leeds against Sheffield United next week.