Stan Collymore makes Leeds United attacker Willy Gnonto admission as England beat Italy in Euro 2024 qualifier
Stan Collymore believes that Leeds United attacker Willy Gnonto can cause trouble in the final third when brought off the bench.
In the England v Italy game on Thursday, 23 March, which the Three Lions won 2-1, Roberto Mancini did not start the 19-year-old.
He brought him off the bench when they were chasing the game, having been down 2-0 at half-time and he enjoyed a lovely cameo down the left flank for the Azzurri.
Via Twitter, Collymore wrote, "I like Gnonto. Bit erratic but post 65 mins could create all sorts of trouble."
Should have started
Gnonto was like a breath of fresh air and we were surprised that he did not start after Mancini praising him in the build-up to the game.
He came on for Lorenzo Pellegrini who just had seven more touches in the game than Gnonto did, despite playing nearly 70 minutes compared to the Leeds player's 20 excluding stoppage time.
The 19-year-old was the game changer Mancini needed and would've regretted not starting in this one.
It was good to see England win, but it would've been better to see the Leeds attacker getting more minutes as he's been an absolute joy to watch.
Even for Leeds, whenever he's got the ball, there's always a feeling that he'll make something happen and he's doing all this just at 19.
It will take him some time to become the complete attacker he's capable of being, but even at his current level, he's an absolutely breathtaking prospect.