Leeds United: ‘Difficult’ Sam Greenwood prediction amid recent report
Sam Greenwood can still have a future at Leeds United but would find it “difficult” to break out of the fringes at Elland Road, Paul Robinson has said.
The 22-year-old forward is on a season-long loan at Middlesbrough, who reportedly have a £1.5million option fee on Greenwood.
However, the player would need to agree terms at the Riverside Stadium and Teeside Live reported (15 March) that Greenwood would be due a pay rise at Leeds should they get promoted back to the Premier League, which could complicate matters.
Greenwood has five goals in 22 Championship appearances for Boro this season but faces uncertain future.
Former Whites goalkeeper Robinson, speaking to MOT Leeds News, is unsure whether Greenwood would make it in the top flight should Leeds get promoted.
“I think any player who’s not in the manager’s squad now or not in the manager’s thinking it’s difficult for them to break in,” he said.
“I do see him having a future because he’s a good young player and I think where he’s been sent out to get game time, obviously the manager didn’t think he was going to get it at Leeds.
“I think that you look at the numbers Leeds have got now and the starting XI and who they’re able to put on the bench, it’s very difficult for these fringe players to make an impact and get into that.
“For Greenwood you question whether he’s going to make it at the Premier League level which is where everyone hopes Leeds are going to be next year and if they are there is a reason that the squad didn’t stay in the Premier League and it’s because it wasn’t good enough.”
Does Sam Greenwood have a Leeds United future?
The difficulty for Greenwood is that he wasn’t considered good enough to be a part of this Leeds squad in the Championship.
And looking at the evidence it’s easy to see why. Crysencio Summerville, Dan James, Wilfried Gnonto, Joel Piroe and Patrick Bamford have all contributed this season, while Jaidon Anthony is also in reserve.
With Mateo Joseph and Will Gelhardt also on the fringes and Ian Poveda having previously been involved before a January loan to Sheffield Wednesday, the opportunities for Greenwood were looking scarce.
If Leeds win promotion back to the top flight then those opportunities are going to be even rarer. It is hard to imagine Greenwood remains a part of this Leeds squad long term.
Whether he remains at Middlesbrough or not, though, is an altogether different question. Only time will tell on that one.
In other Leeds United news, Troy Deeney has made a “pivotal” promotion prediction.
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