Leaders are needed in the trenches and that may be one of the big dilemmas for Sam Allardyce when he takes Leeds United to West Ham United on Sunday. Junior Firpo’s dismissal last weekend will throw open at least one role the head coach needs to fill and he has options.
The obvious route to go down would seem to be Pascal Struijk’s first start since April 17’s Liverpool thrashing. The Dutch defender has played at left-back for the majority of this season or could even slot into central defence alongside Rasmus Kristensen and allow Max Wober out wide.
With only two games to play, there are not that many selection calls for Allardyce to make before the campaign ends. Every one of them matters hugely in this quest to pick up six points before Tottenham Hotspur depart Elland Road on the final day.
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Liam Cooper is a consideration Allardyce may have to make for Sunday’s trip to the capital. While Struijk seems to be the logical, straightforward choice, the club captain, missing from Allardyce's first two or not, has to be a presence the head coach pushes for on the field.
Cooper has been struggling with a glute injury, but was understood to have been close to making himself available for last weekend’s Newcastle United draw. If the skipper has continued to improve without any setbacks through this week, throwing him in at the deep end on Sunday could be essential in finding the points the side needs.
Leaders, especially vocal ones, do not jump out from the sides Allardyce has been able to pick up to now. Cooper, even if he’s only 50 per cent fit, will be a dilemma Allardyce has to solve going into Sunday’s cauldron.
Cooper and Wober showed promise when they played together on the left at Craven Cottage last month. Their organisation, anticipation and leadership could be too hard for Allardyce to resist.
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