By Mark Smith

30th Dec, 2019 | 6:31am

'Decision to make' - Reliable journalist claims Leeds transition was 'Perfect' at times v Blues

An hour before kick-off against Birmingham and Leeds United confirmed that Eddie Nketiah would finally start his first Championship game for the Whites.

There has been speculation regarding the Arsenal loanee’s future, but with Patrick Bamford missing with a dead leg, he got his chance at St Andrew’s.

Despite missing their top-scorer, Leeds scored five or more goals in an away game for the first time in more than 15 years in the 5-4 win.

So, it appears Bamford wasn’t too much of a miss, well definitely not in one aspect of the game for Marcelo Bielsa’s men.

Phil Hay claimed after the game on the Athletic website that the change made to bring in Nketiah for Bamford worked perfectly at first, but hasn’t changed his situation as of yet.

“They have a new broom at the Emirates, a new coach in Mikel Arteta, but the feedback about Nketiah’s loan remains the same: not enough minutes and not enough exposure. And therefore, a decision to make,” he wrote for the Athletic.

“The 20-year-old got his chance on Sunday and the transition was perfect… for 21 minutes.”

Should Bamford be fit, we expect him to start against West Brom on New Year’s Day. Nketiah appeared to wave to the away crowd when being replaced after 80 minutes, which could suggest that was his first but last ever league start for the Whites.

The 20-year-old played well against one of the most physical defences in the league, and it would have made Bielsa even more eager to keep him at Elland Road for the second half of the season.

In other Leeds United news, ‘What I’ve been told…’ – Phil Hay shares number of signings Leeds could make in January