Noel Whelan believes that Marcelo Bielsa should consider handing young defender Leif Davis his first Premier League start against Burnley on Sunday.
The Whites currently face an injury crisis at the back, with Robin Koch and captain Liam Cooper unavailable to feature against Sean Dyche's side.
This leaves Diego Llorente as the only senior option in central defence, with the Spaniard only having returned to full training this week after recovering from a muscular injury.
Davis has looked promising when called upon this season and could be poised to come into the starting side for Sunday's clash at Elland Road.
Whelan, who scored seven times in 52 appearances for Leeds during the 1990s, has stated his belief that Davis could be the answer to Bielsa's defensive worries against Burnley given the absence of Cooper.
“I think that’s massive,” Whelan told Football Insider when quizzed on the Whites skipper's injury. “We know how strong Burnley are going forward from set-pieces and that seems to be one of our weak areas and our Achilles heel.
“To miss someone like that, who’s our leader, got a goal against Manchester United at a set-piece and can be influential defending corners and free-kicks which is what Sean Dyche and Burnley are very good at.
“Just to miss that leadership out there is a huge miss. It may be an opportunity for Leif Davis who seems to be that choice of defender to come in.”
The 20-year-old has played twice in the Premier League this season, having been introduced as a substitute against both Manchester clubs.
He played just twelve minutes of Championship football last season as Leeds stormed to the title to seal a long-awaited top flight return.
Leeds are currently burdened with the worst defensive record in the division after conceding 30 times in their opening 14 matches, which works out at over two goals per game.
