Ralph Hasenhuttl has a dilemma for the right back position for the game against Burnley on Saturday s just who will the watching TV audience see play in that position ?

With the departure of Cedric Soares Ralph Hasenhuttl suddenly has a big question to ask himself before selecting a right back for the visit of Burnley, James Ward Prowse has been the usual deputy, but his participation in the game is in dobt due to the gash on his knee he suffered at Spurs in the FA Cup, although the cut is not said to be serious it is in a vunderable position and it may have to heal a little longer than a cut elsewhere otherwise it could pop open again.

So Ralph has three other options and the problem is none of them have played much in the last 3-4 months.

Most obvious choice would be to give Kyle Walker Peters a debut, the Spurs loanee hasn't played since 11th December and indeed has played only 5 times for Spurs all season, his last Premier League experience being back in August when he started 3 games.

But although he has lacked game time he is fit and has trained throughout including two weeks with Saints so should be chomping at the bit and he looks the most likely to fill the spot.

Kevin Danso has played there several times this season and could also be used, he too has not had much game time of late but has started against both Huddersfield and Spurs in the FA Cup, so like KWP is fit and raring to go, unlike KWP though full back is not his natural position.

Third option is Yan Valery, he broke into the team and looked a great prospect, but this season fell out of favour after the opening games of the season and has barely played since, an injury then a virus has been blamed for his absence, he has played sporadically after the end of August and not at all since a 14 minute appearance as sub in the win against Watford on 30th November.

There seems to be something strange going on behind the scenes with various rumours doing the rounds, the worst of them perhaps being scotched with the player getting 60 mins in last Friday in the U23's defeat to Nottingham Forest.

But the fact remains he has played little actual football in the last 2 1/2 months so looks the least likely to play, although with Ralph he likes to sometimes try the improbable.

So the Austrian manager has a lot of possible choices, but all of them have their downsides, personally I think Kyle Walker Peters should be the player to start, he is fit and has to get game time at some point and a home fixture against Burnley is as good a time as any, with due respect to them they are not the most attacking team on the road, so from that perspective this is an ideal opportunity for the loan signing to show if he is up to the job, indeed most of their attacking is likely to be on the break we need pace at the back.

Photo: Action Images

legod7 added 12:16 - Feb 13 With Storm Dennis supposedly arriving this weekend I wonder if the game will actually be played.
1

redandwhitedee added 14:12 - Feb 13 Anyone but Danso. He is not a full back. I suspect maybe he could play a defensive midfield role in future but so far looks a fish out of water in every position played. This is a vital match, so has to be JWP or KWP for me.
4

underweststand added 18:20 - Feb 13 On paper - not the most challenging game we have to come, but it all depends on fitness and there is a question mark about a fully-fit Valery ...or JWP ...or KWP. Assuming he's fit ..I'd start Kyle Walker-Peters. He has to play sometime and the sooner he gets some game time the better.
3

saintmark1976 added 18:45 - Feb 13 I would play Cedric or if he is not fit we can always rely on Yoshida, they are both quality experienced defensive Premiership players, " oh damn".
2

carolinasaint added 19:48 - Feb 13 Re. the storm: I didn't know it was called Dennis...but then, I didn't bother to ask, did I?
0

LoisDeem added 09:57 - Feb 14 Carolina...speaking of full backs, you ever see Mark Dennis play? Think that's where they got the name from. Hopefully it's Kyle Will Play or James Will Play. Maybe Vallery, weather or not?
0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Leeds United Polls