When Leeds United lifted the Championship on the final day of last season, talks began about who would make the squad in the Premier League. Everyone accepted that some of the players from the promotion campaign would not feature in the top flight.
This included attacking duo Brenden Aaronson and Joel Piroe. The two had formed a great partnership last season, combining for 28 league goals in the Championship. But there were serious concerns about their quality as the team prepared for Premier League football.
So it was telling that the recruitment team brought in two new center forwards in the summer: Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha.
Wayne Rooney thinks Leeds United have benefitted massively from summer signing
The reception of the two new stars were mixed, with a lot of people concerned about Calvert-Lewin in particular. The England man’s recent form has caught everyone’s attention, with a brace against Crystal Palace this weekend. Former Premier League star Wayne Rooney thinks Everton will regret letting the 28-year old go in the summer:
“I think Everton were in a position and they will look now and think they should have kept him.” he said on BBC Match of the Day.
| Player | Goals | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Dominic Calvert-Lewin | 7 | 15 |
| Lukas Nmecha | 4 | 14 |
| Anton Stach | 3 | 15 |
| Joe Rodon | 2 | 17 |
| Noah Okafor | 2 | 14 |
“He was injured for two years and that made it difficult for Everton to keep him, but credit to Leeds medical team for getting him back and playing every week.”
“He is a proper athlete – I have obviously played with him. Most that have played with him and have seen him in the gym know how hard he works.
“If he is fit, he is a handful for any defender in world football but you have got to keep him fit. He is just so difficult to play against and people underestimate just how physically big he is, how aggressive he is and how good in the air he is.
“He has got everything, it’s just a case of keeping him fit and I just hope he can stay fit from now until the end of the season.
“I know he’s got kids now and children do calm you down, that’s normal. The older you get, the more mature you get. So normally, that does help massively.”
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been sensational this season
Looking at how the striker has performed this season, it is fair to say he has been a success. But the start to his Leeds career was very rocky, with fans calling for him to be benched when he went on a goal drought after scoring against Wolves.
It has taken some time, but the former Everton man looks to be at his best once again. The new 3-5-2 system has allowed him more freedom, with more players able to get around him. His hold up play and ability to connect with others has been key these past few weeks.
