Exclusive: ‘Outstanding’ Leeds attacker tipped to spend most of 20/21 season on the bench
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 believes that Ian Poveda is such a good impact player that the winger is likely to spend most of Leeds United’s season on the bench.
Poveda, 20, was signed by Marcelo Bielsa from Manchester City in January but his game-time in the Championship was very limited last term as he spent a lot of time in the Under-23s and on the fringes of the senior squad.
However, the ex-Man City winger has come off the bench with great effect in the last two Premier League matches, in which Leeds have scored a late winner against Sheffield United and an equaliser against City after Poveda was subbed on.
While Robinson has been full of praise for Poveda, the ex-Leeds goalkeeper cannot see the 20-year-old earning too many opportunities to start this season simply due to how good he is when he’s coming off the bench.
“He was outstanding when he came on. He and Rodrigo both changed the game,” Robinson told MOT Leeds News.
“You’ve got to credit the manager because he saw a weakness in Mendy on the left-hand side of the Manchester City defence and he exploited that.”
Robinson added: “It’s taken Poveda a while. We saw him in the squad and then he was left out for long periods but now he seems to be a regular fixture.
“The only thing to his detriment is that he’s such an impact sub.
“There are certain players who have an impact when they come off the bench and they’re put on the bench for that reason.
“I think that’s where Poveda’s going to spend most of the season. He’s going to be an impact substitute and brought off the bench because he can change games.”
Poveda might feel a bit disappointed by Leeds’ decisions to sign Raphinha on deadline day.
Leeds do have plenty of options in wide areas but Marcelo Bielsa wanted to add another winger before the transfer window closed on Monday.
Raphinha is now going to compete with Poveda and Helder Costa for a spot on the right-wing.
As Leeds paid over £30million for both Costa and Raphinha, you would imagine that they will be ahead of Poveda in the pecking order.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay’s shared what he’s heard about Raphinha amid reports he didn’t want to join the Whites.