David Prutton: Adam Forshaw is ‘huge’ for Leeds United after January failings
David Prutton has insisted that Adam Forshaw will be “huge” for Leeds United between now and the end of the season.
The Sky Sports pundit believes that making no signings in January makes the role of those already at Elland Road even bigger.
Forshaw is set to return against Aston Villa, after limping off at West Ham and only missing one game with a hamstring problem.
Writing in his column for the Yorkshire Evening Post, Prutton singled out the midfielder and his role over the next few months.
“As there is not another midfielder coming in then the importance of Adam Forshaw is even more huge,” he said.
“As robust as he has been since he got back, there will be an element within him that doesn’t want to end up back on the treatment table.
“But he strikes me as a tough lad and one that wants to make up for lost time so that’s his motivation, to be that reliable linchpin in the midfield and so far so good.”
Vital.
Going through January with no signings was as disappointing as it can get, with our need for new arrivals bigger than ever.
Our midfield is looking exceptionally weak, and RB Salzburg star Brenden Aaronson was earmarked to improve that area.
The Austrian side turned down two bids, though, and Leeds just accepted the fact that they will need to wait until the summer.
That is a huge risk to take given our relegation risk, with no other targets realistically explored in the middle of the park.
With Kalvin Phillips also injured, that puts most of the responsibility on Forshaw to hold down the fort, and we cross everything that he can stay fit between now and the end of the season.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay shares major injury update at Thorp Arch as player returns to training