Standard is still just as solid defensively. However, Ivan Leko has to tinker almost every week.
The architect of the defensive balance at the start of the season is him! Arriving from Mechelen, David Bates brought to the defense of Standard his leadership and his strength in duels, to take his young comrades in arms with him. Enough to allow the Rouches to give themselves a little breathing space from the start of the competition.
Since Bates’ knee injury, Ibe Hautekiet, Henry Lawrence and now Daan Dierckx have continued to grow under Bosko Sutalo. But Ivan Leko remains concerned about the state of his Scotsman. It is not for nothing that management made it the only paid purchase of the summer transfer window.
When David Bates was injured for the first time at the end of September, Leko was able to recover him for the matches against Anderlecht and Charleroi. But after relapsing against the Zebras, the defender was definitely let down by his knee, his return is constantly postponed.
Soon on the pool table?
The situation is precarious: according to SudInfo, the exact nature of his injury has still not been determined. However, the pain is persistent and prevents him from resuming training. The player, however, does everything he can, consulting several specialists in Belgium and Europe.
The worst cannot be ruled out: an operation could be considered to remove him from the field to start again on better bases. Bates’ physical problems give all the more importance to the arrival of Attlia Szalai, in turn attracted to bring his size and experience to the Rouches defense.
