Javi Gracia will be running the rule over his Leeds United squad in the coming days after agreeing to take the reins ahead of Saturday’s clash with Southampton. Of course, he will already know plenty about the group of players at his disposal but he’ll be keen to see them on the training ground to get a firmer idea of their strengths and weaknesses.
Every player will be striving to catch his eye over the coming days, and it is hoped a fresh voice and a new way of doing things can have a galvanising effect, both collectively and individually. Here’s a look at some of those players who could benefit from Gracia’s arrival.
Georginio Rutter
The youngster only arrived at Elland Road from Hoffenheim a month ago, but he has struggled to make an impression so far. He is still waiting to make his first Premier League start and the appearances he has made off the bench have been slightly underwhelming.
Read more: How Leeds United's line-up could evolve under new head coach Javi Gracia
He failed to catch the eye in the U21s side on Monday night, getting 45 minutes against Aston Villa, and there has been some frustration among fans about his lack of form. He’s still young, of course, and he might take time to adapt to the English game and the way of life in West Yorkshire.
However, Leeds will be hoping that Gracia can help the January signing find his feet and move in the right direction over the coming months. Leeds broke their transfer record to secure the Frenchman’s signature with the hope that he can provide the goals needed to secure Premier League survival and the club will expect to see more from him under Gracia.
We’re still waiting to see what formation the head coach favours at Leeds, but going with two up front might suit the 20-year-old, given he produced his best stuff at Hoffenheim while playing with a strike partner.
Brenden Aaronson
Aaronson started his first season in English football in electric fashion, catching the eye with his intensity, close ball control and pace. He was instrumental in wins over Wolves and Chelsea and it was clear that he would be a key part of Jesse Marsch’s plans moving forward.
However, his form waned as the season progressed and it hasn’t really recovered. As such, after starting Leeds’ first 19 Premier League games, he has dropped out of the starting XI and he played little more than bit-part roles off the bench in the club’s last four outings.
The American caught the eye while playing for the club’s U21s on Monday night, though, bagging the first goal in a 2-1 win and he’ll be determined to work his way back into the picture under Gracia. Like Rutter, Aaronson’s skillset could be utilised perfectly in the Spaniard’s preferred 4-2-2-2 system, or even in the 3-4-2-1 he played in his last job in Qatar.
The attacking midfielder will see his arrival as a chance to turn over a new leaf and he’ll be determined to catch the new man’s eye in training.
Rasmus Kristensen
Kristensen’s move to West Yorkshire hasn’t really gone to plan. The Denmark international has struggled for consistency and form in a United shirt and as a result, he hasn’t started a league game since the defeat to Manchester City in December.
Luke Ayling has been getting the nod at right-back and Kristensen has been forced to make do with appearances in the cup and the odd outing as a substitute. As such, Marsch’s dismissal and Gracia’s arrival provides the opportunity of a fresh start.
Kristensen has all the attributes to be a fine Premier League full-back and he can kick on with a little direction and a helping hand from the new man in charge. The new appointment could result in a shake-up of the pecking order and Kristensen will be pushing Ayling all the way for the right to win Gracia’s approval over the coming weeks.
Depending on the system used there could even be space for them both, with a 3-4-2-1 allowing Ayling to play on the right side of a back three, while Kristensen features as a wing-back.
Jack Harrison
Harrison hasn’t performed consistently at his peak in some time. The winger struggled for form before the World Cup, looking short of his best in a system that didn’t really play to his strengths.
He has played well in fits and starts since Christmas and the club made the push to keep hold of him late in the window, amid strong interest from Leicester City. However, his performance at Everton on Saturday as a number 10 was a huge cause of frustration as he failed to leave his mark on the contest.
The 26-year-old wasn’t the only man to underperform at Goodison Park, but his drop off in performance was alarming. As such, he’ll hope to find consistency and continuity in his game under Gracia’s stewardship and playing with width should help him, too.
Harrison is at his best when he’s playing out wide and while he does like to cut inside, a return to such a role under Gracia might be what he needs.
READ NEXT:
Leeds United faithful 'get behind' Javi Gracia as verdict delivered on new head coach
Leeds United 'can be confident': National media verdict on Javi Gracia arrival at Elland Road
Four Leeds United Premier League fixtures chosen for TV including Liverpool with new dates set
Leeds United U21s ratings as Greenwood and Aaronson stand out in hard-fought Aston Villa win
Ben Foster on Javi Gracia's tactical approach which would be perfect for Leeds United
