Ilia Gruev silences Leeds United doubters as Premier League announcement made
Leeds United’s Ilia Gruev has been nominated for the Premier League’s Creative Moment of the Month award after an update was made on Friday.
The Whites confirmed the news on their X account, with the Premier League’s official website noting that the midfielder’s nomination is for his long-ball assist to Jayden Bogle in the 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest last month.
The 25-year-old has been one of Daniel Farke’s favourites this season, but is not so much rated by some of the Elland Road faithful.
Gruev was heavily bashed for his performance in the 1-0 loss to Sunderland last time out in the Premier League, with many calling for him to be dropped.
But this announcement encapsulates his vision, something that few others in Leeds‘ squad share, underscoring the need for his regular inclusion.
- Read more: Ilia Gruev experiment must come to an end after what happened in Leeds defeat vs Sunderland
This is why Ilia Gruev has been the Leeds United scapegoat
Gruev’s performances have dropped off, but it’s the same with most other Leeds players right now.
When the Bulgarian was at the top of his game earlier in the season, people were delighted by it, especially considering how unexpected his involvement was going into the campaign.
But he was always going to be one of the first to receive the finger of blame if things were to start going wrong. Gruev isn’t a big name, he’s not flashy, and that’s what works against him at LS11.
He may need a break from first-team action, but there doesn’t seem to be any other player for Farke who is up for league-topping nominations like Gruev is.
- Read more: Ao Tanaka recalled, last chance for Joel Piroe – Leeds United predicted XI vs Norwich City
Is Ao Tanaka ready to take his spot back at Elland Road?
Many are calling for Ao Tanaka to be reintroduced into Farke’s starting lineup for extra bite in midfield heading into a crucial period of games.
The Whites are still aiming to survive the Premier League drop, and to do so, Farke will have to make calculated team selection choices.
| Player | Games | Starts | Minutes |
| Ao Tanaka | 20 | 7 | 741 |
| Ilia Gruev | 20 | 15 | 1249 |
Tanaka is standing out as a more obvious swap to make, but that would mean the Leeds boss going back on what he has thought all season long.
Regardless, giving Gruev some time out of the team could prompt him to work even harder in training, and a push for competition is what every Leeds player needs in these final few months of the season.
For even more Leeds United news and updates, head over to Football Insider.