Whelan thinks Helder Costa will be axed v West Ham
BBC pundit Noel Whelan believes that Leeds United winger Helder Costa blew his chance against Aston Villa and will now be dropped for the game against West Ham next Monday.
Jack Harrison was axed after a string of unconvincing performances with Costa brought back for his first start since November.
However, Costa and the rest of the Leeds side were flat on Saturday and lost 1-0. Costa was taken off after 64 minutes.
Talking on BBC West Yorkshire Sport, Whelan said, “I think it was the right choice to give him the opportunity against Villa, but the onus is on Costa to take that opportunity and make it count.
“We saw a little bit from him but nothing that says to me you keep your place in the next game.
“He hasn’t given Marcelo Bielsa a big enough headache and it makes it easy for him to put Harrison back in next game.”
Missed opportunity
Costa – on a reported £32.5k a week – got a 6.0 rating from WhoScored, which was the second-lowest of any Leeds player. Only Mateusz Klich got less.
It was a poor all-round performance from Leeds, though, with no one really standing out.
That’s not Costa’s problem though. His job was to take his opportunity and prove to Bielsa that he shouldn’t put Harrison back in.
Harrison is ahead of Costa in the pecking order and we think he’ll come back in now against West Ham, with Costa likely to drop to the bench.
Raphinha has the right-wing spot nailed down and he’s not going to be dropped at the moment.
Costa could now find himself back in the Under-23s line-up on Friday.
In other Leeds United news, ‘There are clauses’ – Phil Hay makes claim about Raphinha deal, calls Leeds transfer ‘very odd’