Adrian Clarke ‘staggered’ by Leeds United decision on Georginio Rutter
EFL pundit Adrian Clarke is “staggered” Leeds United did not play Georginio Rutter more last season and thinks the forward was written off as a “no-hoper”.
Leeds forked out a club-record fee, reported to be worth £35.5million (Sky Sports, 15 January), to sign 21-year-old Rutter from Hoffenheim in the winter transfer window.
Rutter made only Premier League start and 11 appearances in total as the Whites were consigned to relegation, but has two goals from five Championship games this time around.
And Clarke, speaking on the What the EFL?! podcast (19 September) in quotes reported by Football League World, says Rutter could have been a difference maker had he been utilised more last season.
“A partnership is blossoming there between Piroe and Rutter who I’m still staggered, got very little game last year.
“I think he’s someone with a lot of talent who could have done something for Leeds in their quest to stay up, but he was absolutely cast to one side, written off as a no-hoper and I think we can see that Georginio Rutter is no no-hoper.”
We’ll never know
With a huge price tag came huge expectations for Georginio Rutter, particularly with Leeds badly in need of inspiration amid a fight against relegation in the Premier League last season.
There was a feeling that Rutter, even for the high fee Leeds paid, was a signing for the future, though, and the lack of game time alluded to that assertion.
Dropping down to the Championship meant there was uncertainty over the Leeds squad during the summer, but Rutter was one of the players who did remain at Elland Road amid an exodus of the first-team squad.
Playing in the second tier may end up proving a blessing in disguise for Rutter, who has already displayed the sort of quality he can bring to the table in the early stages of the campaign.
The hope is he can get a big goals return and fire Leeds back to the Premier League, where he will hope for another crack to showcase his talent.
In other Leeds United news, Adam Pope has raved about Whites loanee Joe Rodon.