Leeds United fans were finally awarded the chance to see Luis Sinisterra on Thursday after the Colombian came off the bench to feature in the 2-1 win against Brisbane Roar. The winger was signed from Feyenoord last Thursday, breaking their record sale by signing a five year contract for around £21million.
Being brought in on the premise of replacing Raphinha - arguably the best Leeds player of the last 20 years and one of the most exciting talents in the world - is a tough hand to hold, but that expectation is there with good reason. Sinisterra scored 23 goals and added 14 assists in 49 appearances for Feyenoord last season, making a name for himself as the Dutch side advanced to the final of the Europa Conference League.
Thursday was not exactly a dream debut, however, with the entire side looking a little disconnected in the second half as the Australian outfit upped their intensity. But it is early days.
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The 23-year-old could be excused for being a little rusty, a touch out of sync with his teammates - he had been a Whites player for just seven days after all - but he will be hopeful of much sharper performances going forward. And Sunday morning’s clash with Premier League opposition in Aston Villa could provide the winger with a chance to hit the ground running.
Both of the Whites' two friendlies so far have seen dominant first-half performances fade into second-half lulls, with a raft of substitutes and the inevitable fatigue that comes during pre-season killing any momentum. Those who have started have generally looked a lot better than those coming on at half-time, barring a few exceptions.
And with Marsch likely to rotate his starters over such a short period between games, Sunday could be Sinisterra’s chance to prove his capabilities as Raphinha’s successor from the off. Premier League opposition in Steven Gerrard’s Villa - albeit in a friendly - will give Whites fans a chance to see their marquee signing against the level of quality he’ll face next season.
Above all, it should give the Colombian the chance to blend into the team and understand the mechanics of Jesse Marsch’s style. Unlike three of this summer’s arrivals, he has never played under the Whites boss and is not attuned to the Red Bull system, so while the presence of his individuality and magical moments are easy on the eye, equally as important is his integration into the patterns of play.
To come flying out of the blocks in pre-season is not the be all and end all for Sinisterra by any means, but he and Leeds will benefit greatly from a couple of strong performances. The pressure of succeeding Raphinha will understandably weigh on the winger, but the quicker he can put his own stamp on Marsch’s squad, the quicker that weight will be lifted. And Sunday morning provides the perfect platform to do exactly that.
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