Tyler Roberts backed by pundit as Leeds United attacker faces yet more criticism
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United.
Paul Robinson is happy with Tyler Roberts’ contribution at Leeds United despite the Wales international facing regular criticism from fans.
Roberts, 22, has played a squad role at Leeds this season, playing in all nine of their Premier League matches but only starting once, which was in the 1-0 defeat to Southampton earlier this month.
The ex-West Brom attacker started in the Carabao Cup defeat to Arsenal on Tuesday night and was hooked off after 53 minutes as he struggled to make an impact in Marcelo Bielsa’s attack.
Roberts still has another two and a half years left on his contract at Elland Road so there’s no rush to get rid of a player who’s still fairly young and still has room to improve.
Robinson has defended Roberts amid the criticism from the fans but has also raised the question of the player’s happiness with him only sitting on the fringes of Bielsa’s first-team squad.
Speaking to MOT Leeds News about Roberts, Robinson said: “I don’t think he gets the opportunities.
“He’s a bit-part player, which is the role he’s going to have to accept if everybody can play. But when he does play, he has to make an impact and to his detriment at times, he’s got to make an impact off the bench.
“He’s a good player, he’s lively, he’s sharp going forward and I think he’s better used as an impact substitute rather than as a starter. He’s a good squad player.
“If everybody’s fit, he doesn’t play and he’s got to work very hard to work his way into the team but he’s a Premier League quality player who’s very good in the squad.
“It’s just whether he’s happy with the role he’s given because he isn’t a regular starter.”
Roberts has played 94 times in all competitions for Leeds since joining the Whites from West Brom in January 2018.
In that time, he’s also scored eight goals and supplied nine assists.
In other Leeds United news, Sky Sports’ cameras caught Mikel Arteta doing something disgraceful in the defeat to Arsenal.