Why Marcelo Bielsa could have perfect Kalvin Phillips replacement right under his nose

Pascal Struijk impressed in the Championship last season.

Leeds United suffered a double blow in Monday night’s 1-0 defeat to Wolves at Elland Road – but the solution to one of those could be right under their noses.

Not only did Marcelo Bielsa’s men miss out on the opportunity to go third in the Premier League table, but they also look to be facing a lengthy period without midfield talisman Kalvin Phillips after he picked up a shoulder injury that could sideline him for up to six weeks.

It’s no secret that the England international is an integral component in Bielsa’s team. Occupying that signature deep-lying midfield role, he manages to combine plenty of defensive work with an impressive range of distribution. Replacing him is no easy task.

One player who we have seen utilised in that defensive midfield role fairly recently, however, is Pascal Struijk. The Dutchman – himself a slight injury doubt for the weekend – deputised for Phillips on a number of occasions during last season’s Championship run-in, and caught the eye with his dependable, measured displays.

Struijk's pass map against Charlton last season.

Initially thrown into the centre of the park during the tense 1-0 win over Barnsley, the 21-year-old completed 90 minutes in subsequent victories over Derby County and Charlton Athletic. What we saw in those performances was a young player with a natural defensive instinct and an eye for a pass – the exact same traits that make Phillips such an asset.

Over the course of last season, Struijk’s pass completion rate was 86.2%, as per Wyscout. As a point of comparison, Phillips’ success rate so far this term has been around the 85% mark.