Leeds fans on Twitter call for 21-year-old to solve defender crisis against Derby
By Will Butcher
Leeds fans are desperate on Twitter to see Garry Monk pick Lewie Coyle to start on the right side of defence against Derby.
The Yorkshire giants face the Rams on Friday night, as they look to maintain their eye-catching domestic form which sees them sit in a lofty fifth position.
Coyle, 21, is one of the latest products of the Leeds youth academy to break his way into the first team, following the likes of Alex Mowatt, Charlie Taylor and Kalvin Phillips.
With Pontus Jansson suspended for the next two matches, Charlie Taylor still absent with an achilles problem and Liam Cooper a doubt ahead of Friday’s clash, Coyle could come into the side to allow Luke Ayling to move into the middle of defence.
Leeds fans believe picking Coyle is the solution, which would see Ayling partner Kyle Bartley at centre-back while Gaetano Berardi continues to deputise for Taylor at left-back.
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Here is a selection of their messages on Twitter:
Love Lewie Coyle, think he can really impress against Derby on Friday #lufc
— Ryan Pinnick (@RPlufc93) January 11, 2017
https://twitter.com/NTMILLS/status/819161545577996288
So if coops injured.. back 4 vs Derby will surley be Coyle Ayling Bartley Berardi
— Nathan Sowden (@NathSowden0801) January 10, 2017
If cooper can't make the Derby game ,then we should play Luke CB Coyle RB
— Michael zeus 1158⚽⚽⚽ (@Lazmick) January 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/steffen_yup/status/818573245423165441
If Taylor is still out for Derby then we can play a back four of Coyle, Ayling, Bartley and Berardi as Ayling can fortunately play CB #lufc
— Tom Raynor (@TOMLUFC1995) January 9, 2017
Coyle at right back, Berardi at centre back for Derby?
— Billy (@BillyOwenBland) January 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/MattySpeakman/status/818576877430243328
Coyle is highly rated by former Swansea boss Monk, after the 37-year-old manager handed him a new contract earlier this season that lasts until the summer of 2019.
After impressing in the second half against Cambridge, Coyle is believed to have done enough to earn a start against Steve McClaren’s side in front of the television cameras at Elland Road.
Since his debut for Leeds back in December 2015 against Nottingham Forest, Coyle has gone on to make a total of 17 first-team appearances for his boyhood club.
In other Leeds news, fans have also reacted to these three new arrivals.