Pascal Struijk: The Future Of Leeds United’s Defence

This time last year, Pascal Struijk had played a grand total of 7 minutes for Leeds United’s first team, 6 of which can be described as little more than a baptism of fire, when he was thrown on in the closing stages of the game at home to Cardiff City where Leeds blew a 3 goal lead. Fast forward one year and Struijk has established himself in the first team as an incredibly promising centre-back, while also demonstrating an ability to deputise for Kalvin Phillips when required this season too.

Despite his age, relative inexperience and clear talent, Struijk has been the subject of fairly regular criticism this season. Not only is the criticism unfair because of his inexperience (particularly in midfield), constantly changing personnel around him, as well as having to fill different positions regularly, but he’s proven himself to actually be a very talented young defender with a great deal of potential. While a defensive midfield role is not where he will seemingly flourish and play his best football moving forward, he has sufficiently grown into the position. But it is centre back where he has demonstrated the most ability – the position we feel he could make his own for years to come at Elland Road.

At just 21, Struijk is a reliable and consistent figure in Leeds’s defensive unit. Obviously with some areas of improvement at…