‘I’m at the academy 3 times a week’: Paul Robinson reveals verdict on ‘strange’ Poveda situation
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United…
Paul Robinson has said that even he has got “no idea” what’s going on with Ian Poveda, after the new signing has been dropped from the Leeds first-team squad for the past seven games.
Poveda signed from Man City in January and made the bench for his first two games before being dropped from all matchday squads since.
Marcelo Bielsa has skirted around the issue and Robinson claims that he normally hears things at Thorp Arch but that it’s been uncharacteristically quiet around Poveda.
Bielsa is generally forthcoming on fitness issues and has been explicit about Jean-Kevin Augustin not being match fit before he picked up a hamstring issue.
Talking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, Robinson said, “I’ve got no idea what’s going on with Poveda and I’m at the academy three times a week so I normally hear what’s going on.
“It will be interesting to hear what the official line is.
“He’s a top player without a doubt, but Man City have let him go at a young age and that says something.
“But to be signed and then played and then dropped, it’s strange.”
Calls for Poveda to be included in the first-team squad will increase after the 20-year-old winger produced a moment of genius to create the opening goal for the Under-23s on Monday.
He started the move and produced the game’s standout moment with a wonderful bit of trickery before tearing down the right flank and setting up a goal for Bobby Kamwa.
He played over an hour of the game and certainly seemed to be match fit, although Bielsa is known to have very exacting standards.
It will be fascinating to see if he makes the squad for the game against Cardiff on Sunday.
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