So far this season, Daley Sinkgraven has played a supporting role at best for Bayer 04 Leverkusen. But after the injury to Mitchel Bakker, that could change.
In the league, Daley Sinkgraven continues to wait for his first starting appearance this season. Since Bayer 04 signed Mitchel Bakker from Paris St. Germain for seven million euros in the summer, the left-back has mostly been second choice under Gerado Seoane. Only in the first round of the DFB Cup when Bakker was absent through injury, and in the Europa League home match against Ferencvaros Budapest (2-1) was the Dutchman allowed to start without being able to advertise himself.
The 26-year-old, who was still a regular at left back for Bayer last season, had clearly been relegated to the second row and was not even in the Werkself’s 20-man matchday line-up for the 2-2 draw in Cologne on matchday 9. For Bakker and also central defender Piero Hincapie had not acted flawlessly on the left in the defensive chain, but at least partially convincingly.
A back four would increase the chances of deployment
So Sinkgraven already seemed to be out of the window. But now that Bakker is expected to be out for four weeks with a bone oedema in his ankle, the technician could become important again for Bayer. As a skilled attacking midfielder, he is the more playful and attacking alternative at left back compared to the defensively more stable Hincapie.
Especially if Seoane returns to the 4-2-3-1 system after the 3-4-3 did not work in the 2-0 defeat against Wolfsburg , Sinkgraven’s chances of being used increase. Against the Wolves, the blond was already substituted as a left-back after the switch to a four-man defence for the injured Bakker already in the game and prepared one of the few good goal chances for Bayer in this disappointing game with a precise cross to Lucas Alario.
A break for Hincapie would not be surprising
Sinkgraven also came on for Bakker in Wednesday’s cup exit against KSC (1:2). Since Hincapie was not in full possession of his strength in Cologne or had a weak day as against Wolfsburg, another break for the young Ecuadorian would not come as a surprise on Thursday in the Europa League against Real Betis or on Sunday in the league at Hertha BSC – which would be the chance for Sinkgraven.
