There’s no doubt about it, Jack Harrison was one of Leeds United’s best last season. The winger scored eight Premier League goals in what was an extremely difficult campaign for the Whites.
He performed well under both Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch and he came up with the decisive goal, of course, drilling an effort beyond Brentford’s David Raya at the death to kick-start the survival celebrations in west London. That was a moment of ecstasy but it was also a moment of relief as the stress of a relegation battle lifted.
As the squad made the jubilant journey back up north, the 25-year-old will have been amongst those players vowing to ensure Leeds avoid the same battle against relegation this season. For him that will have meant doing more to help the side pick up Premier League points, creating chances and having even more of a direct impact on games.
Read more: Mateo Joseph on Jesse Marsch's Leeds United radar as striker's potential underlined
Harrison kept himself sharp over the summer, taking it upon himself to put the work in with the ball at his feet before returning to Thorp Arch. He caught the eye in pre-season, too, winning praise for his efforts in training and on the field as the club prepared themselves for the start of the new campaign.
The new Premier League season is just two games old, but already it seems those efforts have paid dividends after hitting the ground running and notably increasing his creative output on the left wing. The former England under-21 international hasn’t scored yet, in fact Rodrigo is the only Leeds player with a goal to his name so far this season, but he has already doubled last season’s assist tally.
Harrison was the man that set up Rodrigo against Wolves, working diligently to work the ball out to the Spaniard in the area and watching on as he drilled a shot beyond Jose Sa at Elland Road. The pair combined at St Mary’s, too, as the winger whipped in a teasing low cross that allowed Rodrigo to turn the ball home with a nonchalant flick of his left boot.
They aren’t the only chances the wide man has created, though. In fact, according to the official Premier League stats, he has created more ‘big chances’ than any other player in the division, with three coming over the opening couple of weekends.
The likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kevin De Bruyne and Harry Kane have only created two for their respective sides, with Harrison leading the way and given he only managed three all season last year, that’s a big jump in creativity. According to Whoscored.com, Harrison is averaging 5.5 key passes per game, which puts him on top of the Premier League pile once more.
Mo Salah is the closest to him in second with 4.5 key passes, while De Bruyne has four, and Harrison is leading the way when it comes to crosses per game, too. Alexander-Arnold is the only man on a par with the Leeds man with the pair both averaging three.
Harrison managed just 1.5 key passes and 0.5 crosses per game last season as he struggled to create the chances Leeds needed to seize control of games and climb up the table. The campaign is still young but it’s clear the winger has attempted to make strides in his game when it comes to his inventiveness and the hard work is paying off.
Leeds have added to their stock of wingers over the summer with the signing of Luis Sinisterra and the Colombia international will press for a starting spot in the coming weeks, alongside the likes of Dan James and Crysencio Summerville. Harrison’s spot is more than secure, though, particularly if he can build on the formidable start he has made to the season under Marsch and kick on.
READ NEXT
Go here for all the latest Leeds United news
What Leeds United supporters can expect from club's new Amazon documentary series
Jesse Marsch has five Leeds United striker options should he be forced into a decision
Jesse Marsch given Leeds United food for thought as Crysencio Summerville proves point
Adam Forshaw has already had Jesse Marsch's message on Leeds United pecking order
