Leeds United: BBC pundit wowed by ‘outstanding’ Ilia Gruev as he’s proven wrong at Elland Road
Leeds United midfielder Ilia Gruev has stepped up in recent weeks with his “outstanding” performances, according to BBC pundit Jon Newsome.
Gruev struggled to settle in at Elland Road following his arrival from Werder Bremen (Leeds United Official Website, 31 August), starting just two matches across his first four months at the club, but is now a regular in Daniel Farke’s side.
He has now started nine consecutive games for the Whites since a 3-0 win away at Peterborough United in the FA Cup on 7 January, and Newsome admitted he has been proven wrong about the Bulgaria international.
While speaking on BBC Radio Leeds after the 4-0 win over Swansea on Tuesday (13 February), Newsome said, “He has really impressed me. When he first came in I thought he struggled a little bit and didn’t look like he had legs, he looked like he struggled to get around the park.
“He doesn’t look like he struggles to get around the park now. The way he uses the ball, his awareness of what is around him, he always has a pass on. Outstanding.”
Gruev turning his Leeds United career around
Football is a funny sport.
All it takes is one game, or even just one moment, for a player to completely turn their fortunes around. After starting just two games in four months, very few people would have foreseen this turnaround in form from Gruev.
There is no shame in Newsome admitting that he was wrong about Gruev, as many Leeds United supporters inside Elland Road were probably wrong about the 23-year-old as well.
After hardly being offered a kick of the ball previously, he now looks like one of Farke’s most important players and finds himself in undroppable form.
It acts as a reminder to football fans not to write a player off after a few months, especially a young player moving to the Championship from a foreign league.
Gruev’s introduction to the team has led to an upturn in form which has seen the Whites win their last seven matches on the bounce, and he could yet prove to be a key component in their fight to return to the Premier League.
In other Leeds United news, one player at the club is just “one step away” from a permanent exit.
or more Leeds news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.