Mark Smith

Mon 18 December 2023 12:10, UK

Mark Smith is a lifelong Leeds United fan thanks to his dad and was forced to grow up watching the -15 season and fallout from Premier League relegation in the early 2000s. He’s now putting his passion for the Whites into words with a regular fan view for MOT Leeds News…

It has been a rollercoaster couple of years for Wilfried Gnonto, who must be scratching his head at where he finds himself at Leeds United right now.

The Italian international was thrown into the deep end of the Premier League as the Whites were struggling for options, and he excelled nearly starting every week.

Gnonto then threw it all away over the summer, it seemed, pushing for an exit which left him ostracized from the group as Daniel Farke worked with what he had.

Leeds were forced to release a statement on the attacker during the transfer window, saying his refusal to play against Shrewsbury and Birmingham became an internal disciplinary matter.

That did not go down well with fans.

Once that had ended though, Gnonto started against Ipswich Town on Saturday 26 August, scoring as he started his redemption story in West Yorkshire.

Despite that, Gnonto has only started four games after that and is now on a run of nine consecutive substitute appearances, with that goal remaining his only strike of the season.

With Dan James and Crysencio Summerville on fire, it has been near-impossible to get him in the side, but that has changed over the last week.

Picking up only one point against Sunderland and Coventry, the Italian livewire has been one of the few bright spots and could have now earned himself a start in the massive game against none other than Ipswich.

Gnonto could be set to finally get his redemption shot at Leeds if he stars against Ipswich and keeps his spot, and based on his recent form, he certainly deserves that chance.

This is one to watch.

In other Leeds United news, Graham Smyth has speculated over an “unlikely” Daniel Farke call over the Christmas period.