Despite 21 players in through the door so far since summer, admittedly many for the Under-23 Development Squad, Leeds United have a consistency problem up front.
Leading scorer, with seven goals, Kemar Roofe isn’t consistently raising the roof with his performances. On-loan Bundesliga striker Pierre-Michel Lasogga hit two in his first game and three in his next nine but has come under close terrace scrutiny and criticism. Caleb Ekuban was sighed at, injured, feted on return from injury and then injured again.
The three strung across the attacking midfield seen to be operating with some aplomb, some of the time and there is a bristling threat at times from that part of the side. Yet up front the problems are still there and still persist.
Some Leeds United fans are clamouring for the owner to sanction a huge spend on a marquee striker to lead the line, names such as Peterborough’s Jack Marriott and Preston’s Jordan Hugill being mentioned.
Meanwhile, some fans are incredulous that Mallik Wilks, a homegrown member of the Whites set-up, isn’t getting a chance – especially after goals like this one for the Under-23s.
Mallik Wilks v Crewe #LUFC #U23s pic.twitter.com/iJge6b8P97
— #WALMOT (@WALM0T33) January 16, 2018
The Leeds-born 19-year-old has just returned to the club from a half-season loan deal at League Two Accrington Stanley, where he scored three goals in 19 appearances – these coming art the rate of one per 194 minutes.
With the ability to score goals like the one above, many Leeds fans are wondering why he doesn’t get a shot in the first team rather than going back out on loan to another, lower-league club.
Here’s what Leeds United fans thought of the situation over on Twitter.
Leeds United fans comment on Mallik Wilks and first team chance
Don’t understand why he isn’t getting a chance over grot
— Cuddy (@CudwSam) January 16, 2018
Definitely agree that we need to give Wilks and maybe a couple of others a chance.
— Michael Asplen (@masplenlufc) January 16, 2018
Skinned
— Enoch (@Showunmi21) January 16, 2018
Really like mallik wilks should be given a shout in first team got pace and eye for goal. Also wtf is this protest from some of our fans for ? Some fans need to get a grip. #LUFC #MOT
— john mac (@maccabruno) January 16, 2018
https://twitter.com/lufc_news7/status/953164953648844800
With the striker situation far from set at Elland Road, with doubts surrounding all the main front runners for the starting role up front, it seems that a number of fans are calling for ‘one of their own’ to be given a run-out. However, would it be a step too soon for Leeds United to thrust promising youngster Wilks into the pressure cooker that is Leeds United’s first team line up?
