Sky Sports pundit stunned by new Leeds United superstar Mateo Joseph in Sheffield Wednesday win
Mateo Joseph’s all-round performance as Leeds United recorded a vital first win of the season away to Sheffield United was “absolutely fantastic” and there’s more to come, according to Jermaine Beckford.
The former Whites striker was blown away live on the post-match analysis for Sky Sports on 23 August after the 2-0 victory at Hillsborough, where the youngster assisted both goals.
The 20-year-old dragged the ball back and was brought down in the box as Brenden Aaronson scored the first after 24 minutes, and picked up a loose ball just after the break to play a defence-splitting pass for Dan James to run onto and finish for the second in the 48th.
Beckford said after full-time (10.08pm): “He was absolutely fantastic. I spoke to guys in the studio before the game started and I said, ‘Forget about the result, just watch his performance as an individual, as a young forward, somebody learning his role and his trade’.
“Everything he did today was really, really good. Really on point, really positive, really forward-focused and forward-thinking. He was always going forward, trying to get on the ball, he was holding defenders up, which was really difficult because they were very, very physical.
“His movement was fantastic as well, finding himself in great positions where he’s threatening the goalkeeper, threatening the back line, he was brilliant… the only thing that was mentioned today as the opportunity to score a goal.
“And that will come because I’ve seen this kid play.”
Brenden Aaronson and Dan James secure first Leeds United win
After a struggling start to the season it was a key step for Daniel Farke’s side to get a first victory so a solid 2-0 win at a Yorkshire rival was very satisfying.
Despite some early threats the visitors took control of the game after Aaronson opened the scoring, and Joseph was at the heart of most that was positive in attack.
He did have the opportunity to score but he couldn’t keep a driven strike down in the second half when he perhaps should have done.
But when the fans are still reeling from the loss of both their top two attacking stars in Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville, to Brighton and West Ham respectively, it will help them move forward if they have a new one already in the side.
Patrick Bamford looks certain to remain beyond the close of the transfer window but missed the trip to Hillsborough with another injury, and Joel Piroe’s still seems unsettled in Farke’s line-up.
The Whites were planning to offload one of the two this summer [Daily Mail, 1 July] but both remain, yet Joseph appears to have passed both for the starting striker role.
And if he can string together a few more performances like the one he produced against the Owls he won’t be giving his place up any time soon.
In other Leeds United news, another Whites star is being pushed to leave the club before the deadline.
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