Both Leon Osman and Nedum Onouha have warned Leeds United that Wilfried Gnonto is carrying their attack as things stand in the Premier League. The young striker has been fast tracked into the first-team set-up and has been a surprise package this season after arriving from FC Zurich in the summer.
The Italian international was a real threat in the first-half against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, but was unable to find an equaliser after Brennan Johnson gave the hosts the lead. Steve Cooper made a change at half-time, bringing on Serge Aurier to nullify the threat of Gnonto down the right, a decision that proved key in the outcome of the game.
When asked about Leeds' lack of threat in the final third, Osman told Match of The Day 2: "That was it, a slight concern for Leeds United. They've made signings and they're trying to develop, Jesse Marsch said his team are where he wants them to be and it's pushing forward, but their whole attack, certainly today was centred around this young man - Wilfried Gnonto.
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"He's been terrific since he made his debut not too long ago. He's carrying Leeds United as a team, certainly their attack, everything that was bright in the first-half came through him.
"But, if you've only got one source of attack the opposition can make changes and stop that from happening."
Onouha added: "Yeah, for sure, that's why Serge Aurier came on. I think Keylor Navas was far too busy in that first-half but credit to them for getting it over the line, I think the head of football admin did a great job there.
"Aurier came on and he made a big difference because for what we saw from Gnonto in the first-half, it seemed Aurier was more aggressive in his approach in terms of defending, he wasn't clean in terms of trying to win the ball, but Gnonto, you could see - he didn't disappear from the game as such - but he was far less dangerous.
"You looked at some of the chances that came his way in the first-half initially, now as we look at the second-half there's not really anything there. He [Aurier] was always set whether Gnonto tried to dribble with it or run in behind, he did it well.
"He showed good composure like this and played some good balls. It was a good tactical adjustment by Cooper and in the end I suppose they'll be happy with the result."
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