Former Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford has waxed lyrical about Whites striker Wilfried Gnonto prior to the FA Cup clash with Fulham. The young Italian international has been one of the standout performers this season, despite being a target for the upcoming transfer window, rather than the beginning of the season.
The 19-year-old has four goals in 16 Leeds United first-team appearances and one assist after arriving from FC Zurich on deadline day. Beckford told the BBC: "What a player his is by the way as well. He's so confident but has an innocence about his play as well.
"Every time he picks the ball up he's got one goal and that's to drive at the defender, commit the defender and he's got such a low centre of gravity and close ball control, he can change directions.
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"He's very comfortable, left footed, right footed, you'll see in some of these clips here, his awareness of the players he's playing with and against, he draws defenders in and puts the ball in a dangerous area. Dangerous position - Summerville - lovely finish here against Liverpool and it was a great game as well.
"Every time he picks the ball up, he's so positive and that's something as a Leeds United player, you love to see that because it relieves a little bit of pressure on you as well."
When asked by Danny Murphy if he could play through the middle, Beckford said: "It could be, but when you're playing down the middle it's a completely different way of playing than it is if you're coming off the wing. I would prefer to see him off the left, picking the ball up early and facing the defender."
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