Leeds United fans, well some of them, are getting a little antsy at the moment as the Sky Bet Championship leading pack close in.
The Whites are currently in 3rd place in the league, albeit with a game in hand over Sheffield United and Norwich in front of them. That extra game, if converted to three points, would be enough to send them top, should results go their way.
That’s the nub, results haven’t been going the Whites way. Their sparkling for has dipped somewhat, corresponding with a pick-up in form by those around them.
Injuries continue to be a constant at Elland Road, gaps being filled by players often either fitting Marcelo Bielsa’s two-position philosophy or from the Under-23s. This has led some fans to begin to worry about whether a promotion can be sustained as the player resources are stretched, and thinned out.
Thoughts then, in the minds of some, turn to players currently loaned out away from the club. One name mentioned on the lips of a lot of Leeds United fans is that of Samu Saiz.
28-year-old Saiz signed for Leeds United in mid-July 2017, becoming an instant hit with fans. His silkiness on the ball, his trickery, his sense of panache soon endeared him to Leeds United fans.
Yes, of course, there was the infuriating inconsistency that he often displayed. Yet, on his day, he was unplayable. He featured in 58 games for the Whites after his £3.15m signing from SD Huesca, 58 appearances that repaid 10 goals and 12 assists.
However, homesickness and family issues led to a return to Spain for Saiz, a loan back to La Liga with Getafe. To press, Saiz has featured in nine games for the Spanish side, debuting against Barcelona.
With Leeds missing a creative spark, according to some, there have been calls issued wondering whether a return can be sought to engineer a successful promotion.
According to Yorkshire Evening Post reporter Phil Hay, that is a definite no-go. Answering a tweeted question from a Whites fan, Hay gave the following appraisal:
still own him but he’s there until the end of the season, and probably beyond.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) February 22, 2019
Hay’s connections with the club do give him a considerable degree of cachet when commenting on all matters Leeds United. Hay’s appraisal, and comments, are surely enough to dispel any hopes that Whites fans might have of a Saiz return being on the cards.
