Ross McCormack: Joel Piroe can ‘offer more’ to Leeds United as regular striker
Joel Piroe can “offer more” to Leeds United if he is moved up front, according to Ross McCormack.
Speaking on BBC Radio Leeds (5 October), the former Leeds and Scotland striker claimed Piroe is not as impactful in the number 10 position and suggested either Georginio Rutter or Crysencio Summerville should swap with the Dutchman on the pitch.
Piroe has scored four goals in the Championship this season, the most in the Elland Road squad, but McCormack insists that moving to his natural position would be better for the side.
McCormack said: “I would like to see Piroe given a run up front with a number 10 behind him. Whether that’s Rutter or Summerville, just give him a chance and give him the tools to do the job that he was brought here to do.
“I do feel sorry for him but I also agree with most people that he can do more because even though he isn’t a number 10, he can probably offer more than he did tonight. He will know that.”
Still scoring
When Piroe came to the club, most of the Elland Road faithful assumed he would be Daniel Farke’s big man up top, but his positional change to the number 10 role, normally in behind Summerville or Rutter, caught many off guard.
Per Transfermarkt, in all competitions, Piroe has started six games at centre-forward and five as an attacking midfielder, scoring three goals per position. While he is certainly effective wherever Farke opts to play him, Leeds fans may be concerned that he could improve if given a guaranteed position.
Piroe’s positional changes are nothing new. For Swansea, he often moved positions and across the frontline to great effect, even though he was mostly deployed as an out-and-out striker.
Per Transfermarkt, Piroe played in attacking midfield seven times, right winger five times and as a second striker once for the Swans, so Farke is likely utilising his versatility to get the most out of the side.
While Piroe is still scoring goals and having an impact on the side, Farke should be trusted to manage him as he wishes. While the 24-year-old can sometimes feel a bit absent in games, his numbers don’t lie.
In other Leeds United news, a pundit has shared what an Elland Road source told him about the club’s hunt for s midfielder who’s “always on the scoresheet”.