da realbet: Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk looks set to be available against Everton this weekend, Adam Pope reports.
The Lowdown: Struijk’s absence
da fezbet: Struijk sat out the return fixture against Manchester United at Elland Road on Sunday due to concussion protocols.
The Dutch defender was replaced early on at Old Trafford after taking a powerful Marcus Rashford shot to the head, with Junior Firpo filling in at left-back. However, it looks as if Struijk will make a swift return in what will be a boost for Michael Skubala.
The Latest: Pope’s post
Pope took to Twitter on Thursday afternoon to relay news from Thorp Arch from Skubala’s pre-Everton press conference.
He said that Marc Roca and Liam Cooper remain doubts, but both Struijk and youngster Sonny Perkins are back involved after concussion and injury respectively.
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The Verdict: Good news
The Whites have relied on Struijk heavily this season, with the 23-year-old making 22 appearances in all competitions. He has actually been the club’s best-rated performer this season with an average match rating of 6.90/10, as per WhoScored, so knowing he could be back is good news.
It’ll be interesting to see where Struijk may turn out, though, especially with centre-back Cooper a doubt, meaning he may feature in his natural central role, with Firpo continuing at left-back.