Leeds United are at the moment scrapping for his or her Premier League survival amid what has been a difficult season to this point at Elland Highway, with the Whites at the moment simply two factors above the drop zone with solely 11 video games left to play this time period.
New boss Javi Gracia has been tasked as the person to assist information the Yorkshire outfit away from hazard over the approaching weeks, though the Spaniard’s job seems to be set to be made far more durable amid a smattering of harm considerations for the membership in latest days.
The dreaded worldwide break has already seemingly claimed a handful of casualties for the relegation strugglers, with each Max Wober and Wilfried Gnonto having sustained harm woes throughout their time with Austria and Italy, respectively.
Though the previous has revealed that his hamstring concern is only a “small” drawback, within the case of the latter man, the dynamic teenager could also be dealing with a extra severe blow, having suffered a “sprain” through the win over Malta on Sunday night, as per Azzurri boss, Roberto Mancini.
It’ll now be an anxious wait to see if the 19-year-old might be match to function towards league leaders Arsenal on the weekend, with Gracia and co set to be sweating over the health of a determine who has rapidly turn out to be a “fan’s favorite” in his new environment, as per pundit Noel Whelan.
Additionally hailed for his “tempo and energy” by Whelan, {the teenager} – who arrived from FC Zurich on a £3.8m deal again in the summertime – has been an actual shining gentle for Leeds this season, having scored 4 objectives and supplied three assists in simply 20 video games in all competitions.
The attention-catching “firework” – as lauded by Whelan – has emerged as one thing of a breakout star within the top-flight this season, with it set to be of actual concern if the 5 foot 7 sensation is to be out for an prolonged time period.
Within the meantime, Gracia might want to plot simply who can exchange Gnonto within the beginning lineup, with fellow teen Sonny Perkins one such determine who will little doubt be pushing for an inclusion within the coming video games.
Who may exchange Gnonto?
As Yorkshire Night Publish author Graham Smyth famous again in January, younger Perkins is a participant who these at Leeds are “very enthusiastic about“, having already caught the attention since sealing a summer time swap from West Ham United.
The Hammers have been memorably angered by the style of the ahead’s exit again in July, with that frustration having been born out of simply how highly-rated the rising starlet is by these within the know.
Very like Gnonto – who can function all throughout the frontline – the 19-year-old has additionally showcased his versatility of late to have the ability to function in quite a lot of attacking roles, making him a dream alternative for the Italian within the ahead line.
Whereas Perkins has to this point been restricted to a bit-part function at senior degree – having made simply three first-team appearances this season – the £1.6k-per-week gem did take his probability within the FA Cup conflict towards Cardiff Metropolis earlier this 12 months, after scoring a dramatic, late equaliser in that 2-2 draw.
That goalscoring cameo was a continuation of the beautiful type that the England U19 worldwide has proven at youth degree of late, having bagged ten objectives and two assists in simply 18 video games for Leeds’ U21 aspect, after beforehand contributing 13 objective involvements on the identical age group for the Irons.
Equally, like Gnonto – who Whelan praised for his willingness to do the “horrible a part of the sport” defensively – the previous West Ham asset can be an actual asset in a defensive sense, having averaged a powerful 1.7 tackles and 1.3 interceptions from his three EFL Trophy outings earlier within the marketing campaign.
Such all-round high quality ought to point out that the glowing expertise will be the person to make the step up and ease the potential absence of Gnonto shifting ahead, with it absolutely not too lengthy earlier than Perkins is ready to replicate his shows within the academy ranks at senior degree.
