Here are your Leeds United morning headlines for Monday, January 23.
Rodrigo warning
Former Leeds United defender Matt Kilgallon believes Rodrigo has little margin for error due to the attacking options at Jesse Marsch's disposal.
Patrick Bamford has marked his return from injury with three goals in as many appearances from the bench, while Georginio Rutter was an unused substitute in Sunday's goalless draw against Brentford after signing on a club record fee from Hoffenheim.
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Rodrigo has netted 12 goals for Leeds this term in all competitions, but has scored just once in his last five in the Premier League. The Spaniard has been the Whites' main source of goals this season, but Kilgallon warns that his place in the starting XI is not unassailable.
“I don’t think Rodrigo can go two or three games without scoring. Bamford would come in, Rutter would come in”, Kilgallon said post match on BBC Radio Leeds.
“It’s great [to have that competition]. He’s an experienced player and he’s been around. He’s probably thinking I haven’t scored here or assisted, so there’s one game, if I do it [again] against [Nottingham] Forest, will I start the next one?”
Jesse Marsch outlines his Georginio Rutter dilemma after Leeds United signing unused v Brentford
Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch has revealed that he decided to wait one more week "until we unleash" Georginio Rutter, after the former Hoffenheim man was an unused substitute during the 0-0 draw vs Brentford.
Rutter was named on the bench for the game against the Bees, with many hoping to get their first glimpse of the Frenchman following his arrival at Elland Road earlier this month. The 20-year-old was ineligible for the Cardiff City FA Cup replay and the stage looked set for the forward to make his debut on Sunday afternoon.
However, Marsch did not call upon Rutter for his first appearance for Leeds - turning to Patrick Bamford and Luis Sinisterra from the bench instead. There will be plenty of supporters left scratching their heads over their new signing's failure to appear in a game that was crying out for someone to unlock the Brentford defence.
Leeds United inch from nine-day sacking nadir into ruthless phase where caveats must become points
Gut instinct said this was a good point for Leeds United. The Whites began the day outside the relegation zone on goal difference alone, with three clean sheets all season and three wins from their last 18 matches in all competitions.
When the division’s eighth-placed team, unbeaten in seven games since October 23, arrives at Elland Road it cannot be seen as an easy match or a gimme Leeds have to win. Regardless of how little time they have spent in the top flight or how much smaller their attendances may be, Brentford are a very good football team.
To hold that very good football team to a draw, concede no goals or seriously dangerous moments and be the better team on the day, deserves credit. Clean sheets have not been easy to come by for the Whites, so it’s a small step forward in that regard too.
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