With new signing Jordan Botaka hoping to make a big impression at Leeds United and Sam Byram being one of the best young players in the league, the position of right wing is full of talent at Elland Road. This means that new signing, and another good young talent Lee Erwin, is being overlooked for a place in the starting 11.
Erwin is a very promising young talent, he scored five goals in 34 appearances for Motherwell and eight goals in 11 for first division side Arbroath in a loan spell. He has proven to be a prolific goal scorer at all levels in Scotland and hasn’t really been given a chance in English Football.
Its difficult for the young Scot to make a name for himself when he isn’t being involved in first team duties. It’s difficult to get first team involvement when to start with you’re up against one of the best young talents in the league. Sam Byram had a superb season last year and made a name for himself in the best possible way. He had reported bids for him in the summer in the region of £8-£11m. So obviously the Premier League clubs, if they are offering that kind of money, do like the look of him, when you have a young talent like this who is popular with the fans, quick, skilful and versatile.
The second difficulty for the young Scot is the arrival of Jordan Botaka or ‘The Wizard’ as he is known. After arriving from Excelsior on transfer deadline day for a reported fee of around £1m, the young winger hasn’t played his first match for The Whites however, I would guess he will play a part in the match vs Brentford tomorrow. He scored 11 goals in 73 games for the Dutch side and is again looking like an exciting prospect.
Both Botaka and Byram will be given their chances in the first team over the coming weeks but I would be surprised to see Erwin playing in any capacity. Erwin has reportedly been told to expect what I like to call ‘The Billy Sharp treatment’ which is basically sitting on the bench until there’s an injury or suspension then he will be given a chance.
After seeing Erwin vs Harrogate and York in pre-season I was impressed with his skill on the ball and his final ball into the box.
How will Leeds know exactly what talent they have sitting on the bench until they’re given a chance in the first team. Manager Uwe Rosler will, of course, see them training every day but that doesn’t give an accurate showing of how they will perform in an actual league match.
With Byram in the first team and with the addition of Botaka it seems to be that without injury or suspension Erwin won’t be given a chance this season. Erwin is still a very young talent in the squad and will obviously be given his chance in the coming seasons, it just seems like a waste of talent to have him sat on the bench for the whole season without being given a start or even a substitute appearance.
Give him the chance, even as a sub, and I’m sure he will show that he is capable of competing for a start in the Leeds United team.
