Only Jack Harrison has played more minutes than Brenden Aaronson in Leeds United’s front four since Javi Gracia arrived. The American may only have one goal and three assists from 29 Premier League appearances, but he has become an example for others to follow in Gracia’s eyes.
Aaronson ended a 15-match goal-involvement drought at the weekend. The 22-year-old delivered the perfect corner onto Patrick Bamford’s head for what proved to be United’s consolation on Sunday.
Assists may not be enough to sate the midfielder’s thirst, however. Attacking returns may have eluded Aaronson for long spells of this season and seen others jump ahead him in the pecking order, but he has been a mainstay since Gracia came in.
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Aaronson was left out of Jesse Marsch’s last starting line-up before Michael Skubala overlooked him during his three-game stint. Gracia believes the former Red Bull Salzburg man has now set a standard the rest of the team should follow.
"Brenden, now he’s concerned about trying to score more goals for the team, but he's doing a great job for the team, playing in between the lines, creating play and helping a lot in the defensive work as well,” he said. “That is the balance we need and when we are defending we need all of them to have the same mentality as Brenden when we are attacking as well.
"We try, in the future, to give him more skills to finish better, to score more goals, to be more clinical in the chances we have, but it's something that's coming because he has the right attitude. I’m sure of that."
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