Beren Cross makes ‘open the door’ prediction for Wilfried Gnonto ahead of Leeds United v Ipswich Town
LeedsLive writer Beren Cross suggested the “blip” Leeds United have suffered might “open the door” for Wilfried Gnonto against Ipswich Town on Saturday (23 December).
Third-place Leeds are 10 points adrift of Ipswich in second ahead of the blockbuster clash at Elland Road, where the Whites are targeting a win to make sure the gap can be closed.
A 1-0 defeat to Sunderland was followed by a 1-1 draw at home to Coventry City and Cross thinks those results might give Gnonto an opportunity after the Italian winger has found himself out of favour under Daniel Farke.
“Wilfried Gnonto was expected, if he stayed in the summer, to be one of the stars of the show for Leeds in the Championship. The transfer saga did not help his cause, but it was ironically against Ipswich Town when the stars seemed to align for him and Farke’s attacking arsenal,” he wrote for LeedsLive on Saturday (23 December).
“When the Whites went to Portman Road with Gnonto, Luis Sinisterra, Joel Piroe and Georginio Rutter in the front four, they all got on the scoresheet. It was a remarkable performance and win by the Whites in Suffolk, which many expected to be a sign of things to come.
“Sinisterra would soon leave of course, while Gnonto suffered an injury which gave Daniel James an opportunity to grab. The Italian has not really had a look in since going off at Hull City, but last week’s blip may yet open the door for him today.”
Would be a risk
After all the furore over the will he, won’t he transfer saga of the summer, this campaign has turned into a damp squib for Gnonto, who has been outshone by the form of Dan James and Crysencio Summerville this term.
Gnonto has mainly cut a frustrated figure, starting just six Championship the fixtures – the last of which came back on October 25 in the disappointing 1-0 defeat at Stoke City.
Indeed, his only Championship goal this term came in the reverse fixture against Ipswich back in August, where Leeds ran out 4-3 winners in a barnstorming fixture and no one would have guessed he would feature so sparesly after that fixture.
Leeds have disappointed in their last two fixtures there is no hiding from that fact, but by and large their front four has been absolutely superb so to put Gnonto in now would be a risk. But maybe Daniel Farke just fancies him as a wildcard in his huge fixture.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay names a player who has “surprised” him as the Whites’ best player of 2023.