Currently Leeds United sit fifth in the Sky Bet Championship table. However, dips in performances and profligacy in front of goal mean the Whites should be much higher.
The endeavour is there, that striving for a goal is there but the end product, well that sadly isn’t there. At times, and let’s be frank about this, it’s not even closely there. United have dominated games at times, but have come away either losing or having to share the three points.
Some fans, not all mind, are beginning to look for scapegoats and that particularly dubious accolade has fallen upon marquee striker Patrick Bamford, the Whites leading scorer with four goals this season. For these doubters and naysayers, the answer is close to hand, very close to hand indeed.
Eddie Nketiah.
Leeds United fought hard to land the talented young Gunner, a striker who’s scored regularly down the age groups at the Emirates. They entered into a Dragon’s Den-style pitch to snatch him from under the noses of division rivals Bristol City with even interest coming from abroad.
Thus far this season, youngster Nketiah has played something of a bit-part and supporting role for the Whites. He has made seven appearances, all from the substitute bench, and has racked up 162 minutes on the pitch. Despite that, he’s still managed to score twice for United.
Scoring is what he does and he has kept this up with England Under-21s tonight in a 5-1 drubbing of Austria. In that game, the Leeds United loanee scored a hat-tricK of well-taken goals. That’s eight goals for the Under-21s, a total that equals Harry Kane’s record.
With news of his hat-trick of goals still warm, some Leeds United fans have taken to Twitter to let it be known that they consider he should be starting on Saturday as leaguefootball returns to Elland Road. Here’s what some are saying.
Leeds United fans comment after Nketiah hits a hat-trick for England
Couldn’t give a toss what Bamford “ does for the team “ We need a goal scorer and in Eddie Nketiah we can have that, he has to start! 🤷🏼♂️@TalkingShutt @LUFC @andrearadri @Conor_ALTV @WainmanJoe
— Lee Cox (@LeeCox1510) October 15, 2019
We’ve got to start playing Nketiah from the first whistle. He IS the answer for our promotion push. #LUFC
— Mick💗 (@Mickandu) October 15, 2019
https://twitter.com/gazLUFC4/status/1184212025922215937?s=20
This….we're all desperate for Bamford to prove the doubters wrong, & his performances have been fantastic recently, but at what point does Bielsa give Nketiah his chance? #lufc https://t.co/FHGZZz535v
— Darren Clark (@DarrenC37382695) October 15, 2019
Nketiah has as many goals in this international break as our starting striker has managed all season.
— Gaz Sowerby (@GazSowerby) October 15, 2019
@andrearadri Can you tell Bielsa to start putting Nketiah in the starting line-up. Thanks 👍🏻
— Nathan † (@nathan_reeve) October 15, 2019
https://twitter.com/BenSmith_7/status/1184207155064397825?s=20