Leeds United: Phil Hay reacts to ‘new signing’ Luis Sinisterra after Nottingham Forest amid ‘frustrating’ recruitment verdict
Luis Sinisterra is “like a new signing” for Leeds United and “looks really good” now he is fit again, according to an impressed but frustrated Phil Hay.
The Colombian winger scored the winner in first half stoppage time as the Whites recorded a vital 2-1 victory against a relegation rival on Tuesday (4 April), having featured only sparingly since before the World Cup.
Jack Harrison scored the other Whites goal and has found form in a big way, giving Javi Gracia a pair of in-form wingers, but Hay, who also likes the look of record signing Georginio Rutter, has revealed his frustration that the club have recruited well but not always seen enough in return.
Speaking on The Phil Hay Show on Friday (7 April, 46m) he said: “It was really encouraging to see Sinisterra play as he did on Tuesday. Harrison probably had the best game of anybody, maybe with the exception of [Marc] Roca, but the thing about Harrison is he’s been in the team for a long time, so you’re looking for him to get back into form, which he did.
“But with Sinisterra he’s an actual returning player, a player who just hasn’t been involved properly for a long, long time… like a new signing, weeks not months.
“I mean, he looks really good, really good, he does. This is the frustrating thing about Leeds, for all the criticism the recruitment gets some of the signings actually look like really sensible or clever signings.
“Sinisterra looks like a very, very good player, and a winger well-worth going after when you sell Raphinha… he just hasn’t been fit enough.”
Timely
Sinisterra looked like he might prove to be the signing of the season for a period back in the early weeks of the season, but multiple injuries, the World Cup break, and crucially the month-long break from Leeds United action after the death of the Queen interrupted his season.
If he comes good now and helps keep the club in the Premier League his debut campaign in England can still end on a high, and hopes will be strong that he can kick on next year.
For the most part the signings who have come in at Elland Road this year have been good, with Rasmus Kristensen and Marc Roca reviving their form of late.
Tyler Adams, Willy Gnonto and Max Wober are definite successes, while Rutter is primarily one for future, but Brenden Aaronson is arguably disappointing the most.
Victor Orta isn’t hugely popular with a lot of fans, and in some cases he doesn’t help himself, while his role in the managerial changeover opened him up to plenty of criticism.
But over the past 12 months his impact on the playing staff has largely been positive, and if he can add youngsters such as Ilias Akhomach to previous prospects like Sonny Perkins he may leave the club on a high, with his future at Elland Road uncertain ahead of the 49ers takeover.
In other Leeds United news, the club have been offered a red-hot striker who is on the move in the summer.