Tony Dorigo reserves huge praise for one Leeds player after win over Burnley

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Tony Dorigo has heaped plenty of praise on Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk on LUTV after the Dutch defender helped the Whites keep a fifth clean sheet of the season against Burnley on Sunday afternoon, during a 1-0 win.

Struijk, 21, was handed just his 12th senior appearance for Leeds on Sunday in a back three alongside Kalvin Phillips and Luke Ayling. Diego Llorente suffered a setback on the sidelines, while Liam Cooper and Robin Koch remain injured.

Leeds were under pressure. They had conceded six against Manchester United and five in their previous four league games from set-pieces. But Struijk, alongside Phillips and Ayling, kept Burnley out – though they did ride their luck.

A controversial moment came in the first half when Illan Meslier flew through Ben Mee, only for Ashley Barnes to tap home – but the referee adjudged Meslier to have been fouled. Nevertheless, Dorigo heaped praise on Struijk.

“Struijk did really well because [Chris] Wood, Barnes, they made it difficult,” Dorigo said. “The ball was in the air all the time, first ball, second ball, corner kicks, so many set-pieces – where we have been found wanting in previous games. We dealt with those a load better today and Struijk and Ayling were magnificent.”

TBR’s view – Struijk should keep his place for West Brom clash

It will be another similar test to the one against Burnley, as Leeds take on a West Brom side that will be full of confidence after taking points off Liverpool on Sunday evening. Marcelo Bielsa, then, needs to keep his team the same.

Cooper, Llorente and Koch are expected to miss Tuesday evening’s match and that means Marcelo Bielsa has limited options at centre-back once again. Even if he had options, Bielsa needs to keep £7,000-a-week (Spotrac) Struijk in the starting line-up.