Jaka Bijol(Image: Harry Murphy/Getty Images)

Slovenia national team head coach Matjaz Kek says he hopes Daniel Farke will retain Jaka Bijol in his Leeds United line-up for Sunday’s trip to Nottingham Forest.

Bijol had not earned his Premier League debut the last time he was called up by his country but has since played his first home and away English top-flight games - the 2-1 win over West Ham United and the 3-0 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion.

The centre-back will play for Slovenia again this break, with his nation needing to beat Kosovo at home a week on Saturday to keep their World Cup qualification hopes alive. Kek has hailed Bijol’s mentality during his period on the bench for Leeds.

Daniel Farke was pleased his £15million summer signing was able to keep his match fitness at a sustained level throughout United’s first eight games by representing his country, and Kek believes this played a role in the German giving Bijol his Premier League bow.

Kek told Dnevnik: “Some of Bijol's reactions in four national team matches in September and October showed how welcome...