Georginio Rutter could be brought back from wilderness by Sam Allardyce after Leeds United news emerges
Georginio Rutter has experienced a torrid time at Leeds United since sealing his club-record move in the January transfer window, but he was given another chance to impress Sam Allardyce earlier this week.
The former Hoffenheim player has struggled to adapt to the pace and ferocity of English football over the past few months, amassing just 234 minutes of Premier League action and failing to find the back of the net yet.
However, Allardyce took time out of his busy schedule to watch Leeds United’s Under-21s in action in their Premier League 2 play-off semi-final win over Aston Villa, in which Rutter was given a 70-minute run-out. [Yorkshire Evening Post]
Considering Big Sam has only signed a contract for the remaining three games of the season, he could quite easily be excused from watching the club’s youth side in action, but the Englishman still saw it fit to be in attendance.
The most likely scenario was that the 68-year-old was there to key an eye out for some players for his first team’s run-in, with the 21-year-old being the most notable of these, considering his hefty price tag and lofty expectations.
Since moving to Elland Road in January, Rutter has been used sparingly by three separate managers.
In his brief time under Jesse Marsch, the Frenchman was used mainly as a substitute. Javi Gracia didn’t fancy the striker either and didn’t even bring him onto the pitch in his last three Premier League games at the helm, while Allardyce left him unused on the bench in last weekend’s 2-1 loss to Manchester City.
There is little doubt that the France Under-21 international has bags of potential, and Allardyce’s presence at a PL2 play-off semi-final hints that he might be offered one last lifeline before the season draws to a close.
Rutter has kept his legs ticking over for the Leeds United youth side in recent weeks, and after watching him in action, Big Sam is likely to have made a decision, one way or another.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay has now shared what he’s been told about Big Sam at Thorp Arch.