Ilia Gruev at risk of Leeds United axe after what happened 5,000 miles away today
Ilia Gruev could be in trouble at Leeds United after new team-mate Ao Tanaka impressed on international duty for Japan.
The Whites secured the signing of Tanaka on 30 August to fill the void left by Glen Kamara and the versatile Archie Gray, who moved to Tottenham earlier in the summer.
Gruev has started all four of Leeds’ Championship fixtures this season under Daniel Farke but his position in the starting lineup could now be under threat.
Tanaka earned his plaudits for his 19 minute cameo in the 7-0 win against China on Thursday [5 September], and his performance now leaves Farke with a difficult decision to make ahead of the Championship restart against Burnley.
Ao Tanaka could replace Ilia Gruev in the Leeds United starting lineup
The 25-year-old making an impact in a 7-0 rout is not impressive in itself, but what is is stealing the spotlight in such a high-scoring game from the bench.
Tanaka entered the pitch on 71 minutes and completed 28 passes, four more than the entire China side during that time [Jonny Cooper].
His talent dazzled against admittedly weaker opposition but considering Leeds boasts a significantly stronger squad than their Championship counterparts, Farke will be thrilled with the display 5,000 miles away.
It seems that after a long-drawn pursuit of the midfielder spanning over a year, Tanaka is living up to the Whites’ expectations, and after contributing 12 goals in 36 matches in all competitions last term for Fortuna Dusseldorf offers more of a goal threat than his new Bulgarian teammate.
Gruev performed more than admirably for Leeds last season and was a main cog in the side that reached the play-off final, but his goal output requires significant improvement with only one goal and one assist last time out.
Farke will need goals from all areas of the pitch this season, on top of someone who is cool in possession, and if Leeds want to secure automatic promotion and avoid the lottery of the play-offs, Gruev may need to be sacrificed in the side to make way for the more clinical Tanaka.
In other Leeds United news, Graham Smyth shares what Joel Piroe told him at Elland Road.
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