Journalist Pete O’Rourke claims that winger Jack Harrison or Dan James may have to sit out for Leeds under new boss Jesse Marsch due to a formation change.
Harrison was a favourite of former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa and has featured 24 times this season in the Premier League, whilst scoring four times and assisting once, according to Transfermarkt.
Harrison has been a regular primarily featuring on the left-hand side for Leeds this season, but could apparently see his game time limited under new manager Marsch.
Indeed, Pete O’Rourke told GIVEMESPORT that either James or Harrison may have to “make way”, due to Marsch’s history of playing two up front.
He said: “Someone like a Dan James or a Jack Harrison probably have to make way. If they’re going to play two up front, he can’t fit everybody in.”
TIF Thoughts on Jack Harrison and the comments from Pete O’Rourke…
Harrison has been impressive whilst playing higher up the pitch this season for Leeds. Interestingly, he received a 7.84 rating whilst playing in a more attacking left-wing role and has an average of just 6.54 whilst playing in the standard left-midfield role, as per WhoScored – albeit from far fewer appearances in the former.
Marsch has a past of playing two forwards and is a manager who likes to press from the front, using his two strikers as a focal point. He also likes to get width from his wing-backs and it’s unlikely that Harrison could be trusted with the defensive duties, so it remains to be seen how he will be used.
However, amid Patrick Hanford’s injury issues, the only recognisable strikers that he has available are Rodrigo and Joe Gelhardt, so it may be difficult for Marsch to implement his preferred system immediately. Although, Dan James has played up front when needed to for the Whites under Marcelo Biela, so perhaps Marsch could turn to him for now.