With two days remaining in the transfer window, Leeds United managed to secure the loan services of Tottenham Hotspur fullback Djed Spence who made his debut for the Peacocks during a goalless draw with Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday.
There is no obligation or option-to-buy clause inserted in the deal and Leeds were forced to cough up £1 million for the loan. It is believed that Spence will be Daniel Farke’s new right-sided fullback, replacing stalwart Luke Ayling.
However, during the 0-0 draw against Xisco Munoz’s struggling Owls, it was Ayling who got the nod to start at the back but with nine minutes to go in normal time, the Spurs loanee was brought on for the long-term defender.
Spence had a lively, albeit brief cameo but certainly will have given Farke a decision to make as to who should start at right-back between him and Ayling next weekend as the Yorkshire club travel to the Den to take on Millwall.
Nevertheless, former Leeds United midfielder David Prutton believes that the manager should find a way to incorporate both into the starting lineup.
Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post, the pundit explained [quotes via the YEP]:
“Djed Spence is a good player and he has operated at this level.
“He probably feels like he needs to make up for a bit of lost ground and wants to be back in prime site of people that enjoy watching football at this level and enjoy being able to compete, which is absolutely what he did do for Forest. He was wonderful and got a massive move to Tottenham.
“He’s not necessarily lost his way since but he has been in positions where he maybe didn’t feel as wanted as you should do as a footballer. Hopefully, he finds a home at Leeds and the way that Leeds play gets the best out of him.”
Writer’s View
The best spell of Spence’s infant career came in the Championship with Nottingham Forest where he helped Steve Cooper’s side to gain promotion back to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years.
Unfortunately, things haven’t quite worked out for him at Tottenham but Spence will be hoping to reignite his fire at Elland Road and will need to be given a chance to prove himself by the manager.
That being said, the only way to accommodate both men into the starting eleven is by deploying Ayling as a centre-back which is unlikely to happen given that both Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk are Farke’s first-choice in the heart of the defence.
Deputy Head of Writing
