Leeds United signed Zhaka Bjor from Italian club Udinese during the summer transfer, and the defender couldn’t hold back his usual starting spot.
The Slovenian defender missed the opening game of his Premier League campaign through a halt and has not been able to enter the starting lineup ever since.
Jaka Bijol is in the fringe
Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk have been very impressive for Leeds and have since given Daniel Fark no reason to change the defensive combination. It will be interesting to see if the Slovenian defender can convince the Leeds manager to give him more opportunities in the coming months.
Leeds paid £15 million to sign him and there’s no doubt he’s a quality player. He could prove to be a great performer for the club over the coming months of the season.
Bijol is heading for an international break with Slovenia later this month, with Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek admitting that Bijol is experiencing difficulties in his club environment, suggesting that the international stage will provide him with an opportunity to reset.
Slovenia Boss by Bijol
“Bijol, Stojanovic and Sesko have more issues with the environment,” Matjaz Kek told the local Slovenian daily Dnevnik.
“But now they play for the national team. I hope these everyday issues go away here. The national team is also an opportunity to prove someone wrong.”
Kek also acknowledged the reality of Bijol’s situation in Leeds. There, there is no incentive to change the team where Farke is working very well. For now, the best chance for a defender to make a statement may lie on his nation’s side, not on Elland Road.
It is still unclear how his situation will unfold in the coming months. He needs to play more frequently at this stage of his career, and sitting on the bench for the English club will not benefit him.