MOT View: Leeds 23y/o is ideal man to make up for big name absence v Cardiff City
Leeds United will be aching to get their Championship run-in off to a positive start with a win over Cardiff City this weekend.
The Whites will have to do without talismanic playmaker Pablo Hernandez, however, with the Spaniard to miss out through injury.
And if the 35-year-old is to be absent, then Marcelo Bielsa is going to have to rely on other members of his squad to step up to the plate on the creative front.
The most obvious candidate to to replace the veteran is Tyler Roberts, but it could well be another Leeds first teamer who really gets the cogs turning against the Bluebirds.
Jack Harrison has been brilliant for the vast majority of this season, and actually completes more dribbles and has a higher shot accuracy rate than Hernandez this term, as per Wyscout.
Obviously, he operates in a different area of the pitch than the Spaniard for the most part, but there’s no reason why he can’t utilise some of that fine form to be Leeds’ star man this weekend.
Inspiration doesn’t always have to come from central areas, as Harrison proved with his assist for Luke Ayling’s wonder strike against Huddersfield Town back in March.
In the image above, the wide man has just picked up the ball with space ahead of him.
His first thought is to push on, and to get at his full-back.
That directness is dangerous, and as you can see fro the image above, it forces the defender to back away from Harrison.
At this point, the winger has the full-back where he wants him, and is shaping to pass.
The other key thing to notice here, is that Ayling is actually asking for the pass on the near side.
For Harrison to not only be aware of that, but to execute the cross, shows exemplary vision and wonderful skill.
And of course, we all know how inch perfect the delivery was too.
Without question, this was our goal of the season, and while Ayling should rightly get the lion’s share of the plaudits, it was Harrison who crafted the chance itself.
If the 23-year-old can show that same kind of impetus against Cardiff on Sunday, Leeds should have nothing to worry about, even with Hernandez missing.
In other Leeds United news, ‘In my opinion…’ – Beckford makes claim about Whites players and Cardiff fans.