Why Carrick Njinko exploits are making Daniel Farke's life hard at Leeds United
Carrick Njinko will be proving harder and harder for Leeds United boss Daniel Farke to ignore.
The 18-year-old forward is regarded as one of Thorp Arch's most exciting young talents right now.
Njinko has been with Leeds for several years now, and has been playing Under-21s football since last year.
Capable of playing on the wing or as a centre-forward, he's established himself as a talismanic player for the Whites' Under-21s side.
As such, it feels like it's only a matter of time before the Elland Road faithful get a glimpse of him in the first-team.
The pressure is now building on Farke to provide that sooner rather than later, and it's being applied by Njinko's form.
His nomination for this award came as little surprise, as he netted four goals in two PL2 games that month, three of which coming in one game against West Brom.
Njinko carried that deadly form into September too, netting twice in a 4-4 draw against Middlesbrough, but he was sent off against Solihull Moors, too.
Tuesday night saw him make his return for Leeds' Under-21s, as Scott Gardner's side took on Oldham in the EFL Trophy.
Leeds' youngsters lost the game 4-2, but not before Njinko came off the bench at half-time and had netted his ninth of the season six minutes into the second half.
Per FotMob, he completed seven of his nine passes accurately, scored with his only shot on target and was dispossessed zero times.
Njinko also completed his only dribble attempt, delivered his lone cross attempt accurately, won two ground duels and won a foul to boot.
Sooner or later, Njinko can't keep scoring goals and playing at the level he is without the first-team pathway opening up for him.
The question is, does Farke show that to him this weekend when Leeds welcome Manchester United to Elland Road?
Farke should absolutely have Njinko around Leeds squad vs Man Utd
Before anyone starts running with the idea that we're about to suggest Njinko should be involved against Man United on Sunday, we're not.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Noah Okafor remain Farke's best strike partnership, and thus Leeds' most likely avenue to hurting the Red Devils.
However, a place around the matchday squad for Njinko wouldn't do anybody any harm, not even on the bench but around the players.
Firstly, it sends a clear message to Leeds' youngsters that if you're performing well enough, opportunities around the first-team will come your way.
Njinko's form for the Under-21s deserves and almost demands to be recognised by the Whites' boss, otherwise the point of academy football is largely defeated.
With Harry Gray away on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, the door to senior football could open up next year in the FA Cup.
It's all about Njinko just carrying on his form right now, that's his best shot.