OPINION
When Leeds United utility man Kalvin Phillips found himself sent off for a dangerous tackle in the defeat to Nottingham Forest it left manager Marcelo Bielsa with a real headache.
The natural midfielder, who has been a favourite of the Argentine and has been used regularly as a makeshift ball playing centre back, saw red at the City Ground and as such faces the next three domestic games out of action, starting with the FA Cup clash versus QPR.
With Liam Cooper having been out through injury in recent weeks and no other experienced options other than Pontus Jansson at the manager’s disposal, it seemed as though he would turn to either youth or another unnatural fit at the heart of defence.
Speaking ahead of the club’s clash against QPR, the answer has been given, with Bielsa confirming that it would be the rarely seen Aapo Halme – with four appearances to his name this season – who gets the nod and his move into the starting XI surely puts Phillips under the cosh.
Bielsa on team news: "Farrell will start, Shackleton will play as a right back, he is an important player, Halme will play because Jansson will train normally from Monday on. Bill Ayling will play too because he needs to play." #lufc
— Lee Sobot (@LeeSobotYEP) January 4, 2019
With a guaranteed absence of three games, Phillips can do nothing to stop Halme from taking his spot and dazzling at the heart of the defence.
A series of bright performances over the next week or two gives Bielsa food for thought and the chance for the midfielder to find himself out of the side when he returns from suspension.
The red card he picked up might have ruled him out for three games, but he could be missing much more as a result of his indiscipline.