David Prutton calls for Georginio Rutter to become ‘more clinical’ at Leeds United
David Prutton has called for Georginio Rutter to become more clinical but has suggested that the Leeds United striker is “growing into” his role as the Whites’ number nine.
Rutter has adjusted to life in the Championship with relative ease and has been in exceptional form in the early parts of the season, scoring twice and assisting a further three goals as Daniel Farke’s side currently sit fifth in England’s second tier.
Despite the incredible depth of talent in Leeds’ frontline, including Joel Piroe who has scored five goals in six appearances since joining from Swansea this summer, it is Rutter who has caught most people’s eye, with Prutton including him in his Championship team of the season so far.
Speaking for Sky Sports on Tuesday (17 October) he said: “Hefty price tag, took a while to find his feet. There is a little bit of debate as to where he plays with the fact that Piroe is there now, but his workrate is something Daniel Farke is very happy about.
“Two goals three assists, creates goal scoring chances. Needs to be more clinical, not just because of how much he cost but the chances that he’s being afforded for Leeds United.
“Possibly, only because I played there if you didn’t already know, there is a specific responsibility and expectation that comes with, being the number nine for Leeds United and I think he’s growing into it.
“He’s a big physical player and we know that the way that Daniel sets up, that first line of defence is attack and he wants people to hunt the ball down. I think with that potential of Patrick Bamford pushing him and Piroe as well for that striker role it will keep him on his toes.”
More clinical
The expectations placed on Rutter are going to continue to grow now that he has begun to find his feet at Elland Road as after his dismal spell in the Premier League many fans were wondering what Leeds United had seen to spend a club record £35.5 million [Sky Sports].
Now that he is showing flashes of the talent that originally earned him his move, fans and pundits alike are expecting more from the 21-year-old and the main thing that he has struggled with is converting some of the chances that his teammates have laid on for him.
Rutter has underperformed his expected goals this season, only scoring twice from an xG of 3.66 and has missed five big chances, the worst of which arguably came in the Whites’ most recent outing against Bristol City, where he skied a shot which has an xG of 0.88 [Fotmob].
If the Frenchman wants to kick on at Elland Road and keep Piroe and Bamford waiting in the wings or playing behind him, he has to start being more clinical while still finding a way to remain as creative as he has done so far this season.
If he can get anywhere near the 20-goal mark this year, he’ll likely fire Leeds to promotion and secure his place in the team of the season come May.
In other Leeds United news, Farke will likely have been left unimpressed by footage of Liam Cooper in Scotland’s defeat to France