Leeds United could scarcely have believed Dutch defender Pascal Struijk would take on such an integral role for the team this season.
The 21-year-old, who had previously made just five appearances for the club has featured in all but one of Leeds' Premier League fixtures since the 5-2 victory over Newcastle back in December.
His appearances have been mixed: as a central defender and as a defensive midfielder.
Struijk prefers the former to the latter, and it is certainly where he looks best when donning the white of Leeds United.
So much so, Belgian national team coach Roberto Martinez, as well as the Netherlands' U21s setup have expressed an interest in calling up Struijk, who is eligible for both countries.
Martinez specifically listed him as an interesting prospect as a left-sided central defender - a position which Belgium will find themselves poorly stocked once the likes of Jan Vertonghen and Thomas Vermaelen announce their imminent international retirement.
At 21 years old, he is very much the future of Leeds United's defence, and on recent showings, the present too.
In Liam Cooper's absence this weekend, the latest Leeds United centre-back partnership kept one of the Premier League's most expensively-assembled attacks quiet.
Cooper - the club's most relied-upon left-sided central defender who missed the game through sickness - must at the very least be questioning his own role if Struijk's progression continues at the same rate.
There is even an argument that Llorente and Struijk performed well enough along side each other to retain their place in the side when Cooper returns to full fitness.
Marcelo Bielsa is not one to be cowed into naming his captain in his starting XI purely for the optics - his teams are selected on the basis of merit.
Granted, injuries have allowed the Dutchman to play a more starring role than expected, but Struijk's persistent inclusion reveals just how highly he is regarded by Bielsa.
Cooper turns 30 in August, but is contracted to the club until the summer of 2024. It is unlikely he would settle for a more peripheral role after impressing in his first full season in the Premier League.
Besides, he has been arguably the most consistent defensive presence Leeds have had this season.
But, the number of central defensive options does complicate matters.
Gaetano Berardi will leave this summer, while Luke Ayling remains emergency cover. That leaves Struijk, Cooper, Llorente and the returning Robin Koch for the remaining two spots: two left-sided players, and two right-sided.
Koch and Llorente were signed for a combined fee in the region of £30-35 million, meanwhile Struijk has age on his side at just 21.
With two burgeoning young centre-halves in Olly Casey and Charlie Cresswell excelling in the under-23 setup, it won't be long before difficult decisions are to be made.
Struijk's development has only accelerated such matters.
