Leeds United fans are yet to see much of Sebastiaan Bornauw, and Daniel Farke has now explained why.
Sebastiaan Bornauw was one of 10 Leeds United summer signings made ahead of this season, joining on a permanent deal from Wolfsburg.
So far though, the centre-back has only played once. Bornauw started in Leeds United’s Carabao Cup defeat against Sheffield Wednesday but is yet to play in the Premier League.
And the Belgian hasn’t even been named in any of the last two matchday squads by Daniel Farke either, and the Leeds boss was asked for an explanation ahead of Saturday’s game against Bournemouth.
Credit: Clive Rose/Getty ImagesDaniel Farke explains Sebastiaan Bornauw’s Leeds United situation
Speaking to the press on Thursday afternoon, Farke revealed how Bornauw is simply struggling to get into the side because of the strong competition at centre-back, and how his summer injury meant that the likes of Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk and Jaka Bijol could all get a head start.
Farke said of the 26-year-old Bornauw: “He’s a really really good player and we are there with not one problem so far in the centre-back position. He has to just to be patient a little bit because I can’t blame any of the other guys because they have rarely put a foot wrong.
“Even Jaka Bijol has not done a foot wrong and would not be deserved to take Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk out at the moment. It’s tough for Sebastiaan right now because not to make it into the match day squad for player of his calibre is difficult.
“It’s one of the the most difficult decisions at the moment. But this is how professional football works.”
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That Sheffield Wednesday game was a debut for several alongside Bornauw, including Bijol and also Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Calvert-Lewin endured a nightmare debut for Leeds missing several key chances. But Bornauw’s Leeds United debut was criticised too, after he and Bijol struggled to cope with a youthful Sheffield Wednesday.
TalkSPORT pundit Sam Matterface said after that game: “Leeds played a lot of first-team players. They played the two brand-new centre-half signings, Bornauw and Bijol, who had a terrible evening, by the way.”
Farke though clearly thinks a lot of Bornauw. He’ll eventually get his chance in the Premier League and fans will judge him when he’s had a fair run in the side, whenever that might be.
Leeds’ game against Bournemouth kicks off at 3pm this Saturday.