Daniel Farke has been unable to rotate his number 9 this season due to the lack of options in the Leeds United squad. Joel Piroe has continued to be in the team despite scoring just one goal in his last seven appearances. However, a former Leeds star feels the best striker in the squad has not been playing regularly this season.
The Leeds United boss decided against signing a striker in the January transfer window, and this could come back to haunt him at the end of the season.
Piroe has been forced to toil through a run of poor form because of the lack of options in the squad. Patrick Bamford has again struggled with injuries this season, and Mateo Joseph has scored just three times this season.
However, former Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson has chosen his best striker in the Leeds squad, and it is going to come as a massive shock for the Whites fans.
“He is the best striker in the Leeds United squad, but is not scoring goals” – Robinson
Mateo Joseph started the season as the first-choice striker at Leeds, but his struggles in front of goal meant Piroe returned to the team soon.
He has scored just three times this season, and some are surprised that Leeds rejected a big-money offer for him in the January transfer window.
However, Robinson stressed there is a reason Leeds didn’t sell him, and it’s because he is rated highly in the Whites’ squad.
He is not expecting Leeds to sell in the summer as well, and believes the Spaniard is the best striker in the squad who will come good eventually with more experience.
“No, I think he’s a good player. They rebuffed that bid for a reason, because I think he’s a good young player. He started the season, and I’ve always said it, I like him, but it’s a funny thing to say. I think he’s the best striker they’ve got, but he doesn’t score goals, but I think that’s to do with his age, his youth and his development”, Robinson said on MOT Leeds News.
“I think a player like him, he’d be a good asset in the Premier League to have on the bench, to have as an option. He’s not going to start every week, but I think as a young player, I still think there’s a lot more to come for him.
“I think there’s a reason that Leeds turned that bid down in January, obviously because of the squad size and the inability to maybe recruit again in that area and the injuries to Patrick Bamford, but actually I think he’s a player that I rate and I think that the club rates him and his price tag is not going to be affected by staying again for another year at Leeds.”
Joseph has done little to warrant such praise
There was excitement around Joseph at the start of the season as Farke gave his backing to the Spaniard to be the number 9 for his team.
However, it became clear very early that he was not ready to carry that burden and it was no surprise that Piroe replaced him in the team in the middle of the campaign.
Can you name the Leeds games these 10 goal celebrations are from?
Joseph has not started a league game since the end of last year, and even with Piroe struggling at the moment, Farke has not even considered getting him into the team
He could come good in the future, but for the moment, Leeds fans must wonder what the hype is about the Spaniard.
