BBC journalist responds when asked if 20y/o rookie can replace Hernandez in Leeds XI
Leeds United fans had their first look at Ian Poveda in the first-team on Sunday when he made his debut in the 2-0 defeat to Cardiff.
The 20-year-old was signed from Manchester City in the January transfer window but had to wait quite some time before being called upon by Marcelo Bielsa to play in the senior squad.
Poveda came off the bench with 13 minutes left to play at the Cardiff City Stadium at the weekend but unfortunately couldn’t help the Whites avoid defeat.
The rookie winger, who had made just one senior appearance in his career before heading to Elland Road, is someone with plenty of potential and BBC Radio Leeds journalist Adam Pope has been asked if he will one to replace Pablo Hernandez in the United starting line-up.
Pope doesn’t seem to see Poveda taking Hernandez’s spot any time soon but has tipped the veteran Spaniard to take the former Man City player under his wing.
We would like to see more of Poveda before the season ends but only if Bielsa has full faith in the young winger being able to perform in the Championship.
Poveda is primarily a right-sided winger and Hernandez has played mostly in the centre of the midfield this season so it is hard to see him replacing the ex-Spain international in that sense.
However, as Pope points out, Bielsa is a fan of versatility and we wouldn’t be shocked if Bielsa was trying to get Poveda up to speed in playing a number of attacking positions in training.
Helder Costa has been Leeds’ main right-winger this season and he hasn’t exactly captured the imagination of most fans.
Poveda is more likely to replace him at the moment, we think.
In other Leeds United news, Leeds have rejected the advances of this player’s agent.