Leeds United have made a solid start to life back in the Premier League, and some of their new signings have come to the fore at the start of the season. However, several of their old guards have also been standing up to the challenge of playing in the top tier.
With eight points from their opening six Premier League games, Leeds are looking far from a team that were tipped to go straight back down to the Championship this season. Leeds have looked competitive and resilient, and scoring the early points needed to ease the pressure on the team.
Leeds’ solid recruitment has come to the fore at the start of the season. Sean Longstaff and Aton Stach have been solid in the middle of the park, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been earning his manager’s praise with his performances as the number nine, leading the team’s frontline.
However, an unlikely Leeds star has broken into the BBC Team of the Week because of his performance at Elland Road against Bournemouth on Saturday.
Joe Rodon termed the heart of the Leeds United team
Rodon scored his first goal of the season when he turned in a header from a set-piece, and had a brilliant game at the back despite the home side conceding a late goal to only earn a point.
BBC pundit Troy Deeney believes the Welshman is at the heart of everything that Leeds do with his physicality and his defensive instincts that help him make the right decisions at the back.
He feels Rodon had a fantastic game against the Cherries and could have scored more than one goal at Elland Road.
“He’s at the heart of what Leeds do well”, Deeney said on BBC Sport.
“He’s physical, good on the ball, knows when to go, and knows when to hold. I just think he had a really good all-round game in the draw with Bournemouth, and it was a fantastic header as well.
“He was unlucky not to score two.”
Rodon has been a physical specimen at Leeds
Rodon has been one of the most durable centre-backs in football since he joined Leeds in 2023, initially on a loan deal from Tottenham.
In a remarkable feat, the Welshman has missed only one league game due to injury since 2023, appearing in 95 of the 96 matches he was available for.
He has been a constant presence in the Leeds backline since 2023, and it seems unlikely that he will be giving up his spot in the team any time soon.
Leeds signed two new centre-backs in the summer, but Rodon’s performances and fitness mean he has been hard to dislodge from the team.
Can you name these 10 former Leeds United strikers?
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