In recent weeks there have been comments from Leeds United supporters pushing for manager Marco Bielsa to start Eddie Nketiah alongside Patrick Bamford as they continue to struggle in front of goal.
Defensively Leeds have been fantastic and have the best record in the division but up front is where their problems lie. Losing Kemar Roofe to Anderlecht in the summer was undoubtedly a big loss to their striking department. Although Nketiah has impressed when played he hasn’t quite had the impact that Roofe had.
In 11 games this season, the Whites have accumulated just 15 goals which is the lowest out of the top 11 teams in the league. Patrick Bamford has been the regular lone front man with Tyler Roberts having only just returned from injury and Nketiah having been used sparingly so far.
The Arsenal loanee has a much better goals per minute ratio than the former Middlesbrough man but this hasn’t deterred Bielsa from keeping faith with Bamford.
This beggars the question of whether Nketiah should start alongside Bamford to give them more of an attacking threat. However, they would then need to sacrifice one of their midfielders.
Kalvin Phillips is their star man and the ideal base to shield their defence and there is no question of him being dropped. Pablo Hernandez should shortly return from injury and has been a vital component for Leeds already with two goals and two assists from midfield.
Mateusz Klich and Stuart Dallas have also impressed in midfield thus far and it would be extremely harsh to drop one of them based on their form. Dropping a midfielder would potentially tarnish what has been the league’s best defence and would the introduction of Nketiah really add enough goals to sacrifice their solidity?
It is a difficult question and one which only Bielsa will know the answer to.
