Leeds United will need consistent goal-scoring from their No. 9 position if they want to improve their chances to earn automatic promotion to the Premier League next season.
Mateo Joseph has made nine appearances for Leeds but only had one goal and three assists. While creating chances for his teammates is ideal the striker’s role is to score goals.
Joël Piroe, on the other hand, also made nine appearances across all competitions and scored four goals, recording them off the bench. It will be interesting if Piroe’s production as a substitute can garner him more starts as manager Daniel Farke’s striker.
What’s next for the Leeds striker position?
Leeds need consistency from their No. 9 position and these next few months will determine whether the Whites need to pursue a striker when the January transfer window opens.
While speaking to LeedsUnited.News, transfer expert Graeme Bailey mentioned that Farke doesn’t seem to have complete confidence in Piroe, despite his impressive statistics.
“I think they’ll be looking all over. Attacking wise, I think Mateo Joseph has looked good, but there is a concern about the lack of goals, clearly. From my understanding, I don’t really think there is a belief that Piroe, Bamford or Gelhardt are the ones to get them goals.
“I think another striker will be on the top of the agenda, but they do like Mateo Joseph a whole lot. They think he’s potentially very, very good, but will he score enough goals to get Leeds promoted, that’s the concern at the minute with him. I think he needs help.
“It’s clear that Piroe, Bamford and Gelhardt, I don’t think the manager has belief in them. There is eight weeks or more before January so I think there’s a chance for Bamford or Piroe to play themselves back into the situation, especially Piroe.
“But Bamford, from where’s he gone from starting in the Premier League, to not even starting now. I think there’s a belief they could get one of them firing, but I still think a striker is towards the top of the agenda.”
Leave a Reply