There are a handful of Leeds United players finally proving to the club’s fans that they can shine in a Leeds shirt this season, but one player has a bigger challenge than most.
Junior Firpo is finally producing the form Leeds might have expected from him when signing him from Barcelona. On Saturday, Firpo reached a stat last accomplished by Ian Harte for Leeds way back in 2001.
Other Leeds players are starting to come good. Illan Meslier has been largely up and down throughout his Leeds spell but this season, the Frenchman has a whopping five clean sheets in seven appearances.
Joel Piroe has three goals off the bench for Leeds this season. The Dutchman is finally starting to score on a regular basis after netting 14 times in his first season, a season in which Piroe scored sporadically.
But one player has more to prove than anyone this season and that is Brenden Aaronson. Max Wober has also returned after jumping ship to go on loan, but Wober is a proven, top-quality international defender.
Wilfried Gnonto says he missed Brenden Aaronson last season
Gnonto scored his second goal of the season on Saturday and matched Aaronson’s tally for the 2024-25 campaign with a wonderful finish into the top corner. A comfortable 3-0 win for Leeds over Coventry.
Speaking after the win, Gnonto says he missed Aaronson last season while the American went on loan to Union Berlin. The winger explains how Aaronson is one of his best friends at Elland Road, right now.
“He’s a great guy. I knew him from two seasons ago, I can say that I missed him a bit last season. He’s a good guy, he’s hard-working on the pitch but always a funny guy off the pitch,” Gnonto told CBS Sports.
“Yeah it’s great to have him, it’s great to have these types of players. I can say he’s one of my best friends in the team, I really enjoy playing with him,” Gnonto added when asked about the returning Aaronson.
Aaronson and Gnonto relationship is starting to grow at Leeds
With Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter now in the Premier League, Leeds needed to replace the duo. Not specifically in terms of position, but in terms of their threat and quality in the final third.
Aaronson and Gnonto are starting to do that. The American’s speed, vision and quality of pass is helping him stand out in this Leeds side, with Graeme Bailey saying Aaronson could be the best in the league.
With Manor Solomon injured and currently being replaced by Largie Ramazani, the two obvious choices in attack currently are Gnonto and Aaronson and their relationship off the pitch is clearly helping on it.
Whether Farke makes changes on Tuesday remains to be seen. Leeds face their second of three games in six days against Norwich, and The Whites will be doing some traveling to as they go to Carrow Road.
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