Having started the season on the bench for the first three league games, Brenden Aaronson has now started four of the last five games for Leeds United.
The attacking midfielder was a regular player last term, but he has been utilised from the right flank for each of Leeds United’s last three league games now.
He also started in that role against Sheffield Wednesday, albeit not to great effect. It’s somewhat of a surprise that he has been able to start so often after last season in the Championship.
It’s fair to say that Brenden Aaronson has been a frustration to Leeds fans for some time now, and stepping up to the Premier League was not a widely held view among fans or pundits.
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Brenden Aaronson’s chance creation numbers are impressive for Leeds
Aaronson believes his Leeds future is clear, but clearer still was Leeds’ need for a higher quality after he notched just two assists in the Championship.
He is more renowned for his out of possession work, given his engine and intensity off the ball. Although Aaronson was praised for his defensive contribution against Fulham, more quality was required.
Leeds fans loved Aaronson’s performance against Bournemouth, but his work-rate and team effort were praised more than anything he did regarding his in possession play.
However, as Squawka revealed on X (formerly Twitter), there are only two players in all of the Premier League — as of matchday six — who have created more big chances than Aaronson.
They are Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace and David Brooks of Bournemouth. Anton Stach has been Leeds’ chief creator so far, but not in terms of big chance creation.
A pass or action which ends in a shot is a chance created, but the USMNT international midfielder has played teammates in for higher quality and more significant chances thus far.
Daniel Farke has been very defensive of Aaronson of late, and that reveal highlights part of the reason why. Now, Dan James’ injury presents an opportunity for Aaronson to nail down a starting berth.
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Tony Dorigo’s view of Brenden Aaronson
Tony Dorigo has mixed feelings about Aaronson but the above reveal is putting some minds at ease, even if it is only a small sample size.
He said: “He’s worked extremely hard. He’s kept the ball well, but we’re always looking for that bit going forward.
“He does everything else very well. The space when he does go inside is there for Jayden Bogle to attack.”
Per FotMob, Stach has 0.10xA per 90, Noah Okafor has 0.12xA per 90, but Aaronson leads the squad with 0.22. It may be a small sample, but it’s impressive nonetheless.
Time will tell, but the 24-year-old could well have turned a corner in this newer role.
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