Brenden Aaronson lauded live on talkSPORT after what 'Terrific' Leeds United did

Brenden Aaronson has been lauded for completing a superb "team goal" to hand Leeds United all three points at Derby County by Adrian Clarke.

The impressive American has shone in large parts this term and snatched the win to put Leeds back to the summit of the Championship as the turn of the year beckons, finishing off a fine move to sign off a hard-fought but dominant 1-0 win at Pride Park.

Clarke, speaking live on talkSPORT coverage of the game [29 December, 19:24], was very complimentary of the attacking midfielder, whose miss in the first half he had branded "lazy" beforehand, while hailing the move on the whole.

"That is what you call a team goal. Patient, sustained pressure from Leeds United," the ex-Arsenal winger said.

"They waited for the hole to appear, and it's a brilliant one-two, from Aaronson into Piroe. The reverse pass is terrific, and then the moment that really mattered.

"Aaronson just clips it over the goalkeeper into the bottom corner; really accomplished finish, and on the balance of play they do deserve a goal."

Leeds United boosted by Aaronson summer loan return

Leeds United were inundated with returning loanees in the summer, with many of them dispensable or even unwanted.

But despite the uncertainty around Aaronson's future initially, he has moulded back into Daniel Farke's squad as a huge part of the team's attacking output.

The excitement of the driving midfield man was coupled with frustration even on the opening day, when he salvaged an equaliser at Elland Road against league newcomers Portsmouth before putting a one-on-one agonisingly wide to win it seconds later.

His intricate play and superb individual moments of brilliance are exactly what Farke needs to go one better than last campaign, with promotion now universally non-negotiable.

And the delivery of another match-winning moment late on at an in-form Derby to head into 2025 top of the pile could be the most crucial of the lot so far.

In other Leeds news, Joe Gelhardt is heavily mooted for a departure in January as rumours intensify.

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