Leeds have ‘their new Kalvin Phillips’ after what Sean Longstaff did v Man United
Sean Longstaff’s arrival at Leeds United was met with a mixed reaction.
Daniel Farke will have taken plenty away from his side’s 0-0 draw with Man United, and the majority of it will be positive.
Leeds looked dangerous on the break, while having a sense of composure about them when the Red Devils were in possession.
All of the new arrivals were handed a chance to showcase their ability, and the display of Longstaff will bode well heading into the Premier League campaign.
Longstaff could be an unexpected difference-maker for Leeds
Longstaff arrived from Newcastle in a deal worth around £12million, and fans were undecided as to whether he would be the right addition at Elland Road.
However, based on his 45-minute display against Man United, many of those fears have been subdued, and he could prove to be a valuable player should these performances be replicated going forward.
Via Fotmob, he completed 96 per cent of his 25 attempted passes in the game, while successfully finding his teammate with the only long ball he tried.
| Competition | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total 2024/25 | 32 | 1 | 4 | 1,203′ |
| Premier League | 25 | 0 | 2 | 787′ |
| EFL Cup | 5 | 0 | 2 | 236′ |
| FA Cup | 2 | 1 | 0 | 180′ |
Most impressively, those passes emerged from just 29 touches in the game, showcasing that he is capable of moving the ball on quickly, which is a similar trait to what Kalvin Phillips had at Leeds.
Two of his three defensive duels resulted in him winning the ball, with two recoveries and two fouls won to go alongside it.
Longstaff isn’t a flashy midfielder, but similar to Phillips from his time with the Whites, he has a scary amount of composure, which will only benefit Leeds as they look to survive in the Premier League.
Farke will be aware of the enxt steps at Leeds
Despite what has been a successful start to pre-season at large, Farke will be no stranger to the fact that his side lacked that clinical ability in the final third.
It was the same at times in the Championship, showcasing the need for Leeds to secure attacking reinforcements before their campaign gets underway in August.
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