Leeds United are set to embark on a set of festive fixtures that will need their squad to step up given how gruelling the run of games is going to be. A number of squad players could see their names in the starting eleven in the coming games as Daniel Farke looks to keep things fresh while trying to ensure that his side’s levels do not drop. Manor Solomon is one of the players who could get a golden chance to reestablish himself in the starting eleven in the next two weeks.
Solomon joined Leeds on loan from Tottenham last summer and made an instant impact by registering an assist in his debut against Hull City at Elland Road.
However, the winger was coming back into the game after a long injury layoff and just two games into his Leeds career he picked up a hamstring injury, which kept him out until the middle of October.
The winger has been involved in every game since returning from the injury but has been in and out of the starting eleven and is struggling to find any rhythm due to not getting a run of games from the start.
However, Solomon has shown glimpses of the talent that made Leeds fans so excited about his arrival in the summer from Tottenham and it is time Farke puts him back in the eleven for a few games to see whether he has it in him to be consistent.
Manor Solomon can be a real gamechanger in the coming weeks
Three of Leeds United’s next five games are away from home and they have won just three of their ten games on the road this season.
Leeds have struggled to find the back of the net regularly and if it was not for an own goal, they would have left Deepdale empty-handed on Saturday.
The Yorkshire giants need some inspiration in attack away from home and Solomon is exactly the kind of mercurial talent who could provide that spark in the final third during the festive period.
Leeds should be taking care of Oxford United and Blackburn at home but it is in those three away fixtures that the Israeli winger could come in handy for the team.
The Whites have been accused of being too predictable on the road and easy to defend against. However, the introduction of Solomon into the starting eleven could just shake things up for the attack.
Stoke, Derby and Hull are three teams Leed should be beating, even away from home, given their place in the table but all three are expected to defend deep against the Whites.
The Israeli winger’s unpredictability could just be the key Leeds need to prize open their defences and make the team more dangerous on the road this season.
Wilfried Gnonto has yet to step up for Leeds this season and while Daniel James is playing well, he is not putting on the kind of attacking numbers that the team expect from him.
Solomon is an option on both the flanks and he can even play in the attacking midfield role, which could threaten Brenden Aaronson’s place in the starting eleven.
Farke will anyway have to rotate his squad in the next two weeks and the Spurs loanee will not get a better opportunity to prove that he deserves a regular starting berth this season.
Daniel Farke needs to trust the wideman’s mercurial ability
The Leeds manager’s teams are known for their attacking football. However, the German is also big on stability and consistency of performances.
Farke’s sides dominate the ball but the same attribute often makes them easy to defend against, especially away from home. Leeds have struggled to get back into games on the road after conceding the first goal.
He had Crysencio Summerville to prize open defences last season but Leeds do not have a player like that this time around. Gnonto and James are similar players and the Leeds strikers are more playmakers than number 9s.
It is time Farke places his trust in Manor Solomon who could be his Summerville for this season. The Israeli takes risks and is prepared to lose the ball in search of a goal or an assist.
Solomon’s mercurial nature will add that much-needed dose of spark and unpredictability to the Leeds attack, especially away from home this season.
He needs to ensure that he produces the goods on the pitch when he gets that opportunity to give Farke selection headaches for the rest of the season.
