It feels like Daniel Farke is still yet to fully decide on his strongest Leeds United front four this season.
Wilfried Gnonto, Dan James, Brenden Aaronson and Mateo Joseph had looked like it would be during the opening month of the season, until James picked up a hamstring injury that has ruled him out since the third match.
Tottenham loanee Manor Solomon came into the team in his place, but like James, has also missed a number of games due to injury, which then opened the door for Largie Ramazani.
With two goals and an assist, Ramazani has more than taken his chance in the team, but Farke has made it clear on several occasions he still has plenty of areas to improve, suggesting full faith isn’t there just yet.
When all four of Leeds‘ wingers are fit, it is going to be very interesting to see who Farke decides to go with.
What’s more, Joel Piroe‘s goal at Sunderland then also threw a spanner in the works for that number nine spot, given Mateo Joseph had started the first eight matches of the campaign.
How Daniel Farke currently feels about Joel Piroe at Leeds
The only real criticism that can be aimed at Joseph so far is his lack of goals. A return of just one in nine isn’t quite enough for a striker.
However, there is no doubt Joseph has so many of the attributes needed to be a success. His work-rate is good, he links up play well and his physicality has been a match for most defenders in the division.
Piroe, meanwhile, has scored four goals already, despite the fact he has only started two matches. Piroe also has the best minutes per goal of any Championship player, from those who have scored at least twice.
Even when Piroe was coming off the bench and scoring goals, Farke resisted the temptation to start him until that game at Sunderland.
Speaking exclusively to LeedsUnited.News, transfer expert Graeme Bailey says Farke does not quite have ‘full belief’ in the £10.5 million man even with those impressive statistics.
He said: “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.”
Piroe has finally found place in Leeds squad
Though Farke may not have full belief in Piroe to be Leeds’ starting striker week-in, week-out, it does finally feel as though he has found his place in the squad.
It was clear last season, even despite a solid return of 14 goals, that Farke did not quite know how to use him.
Around a year ago, Farke gave a 10 minute plus answer in a press conference on his reasons for picking Piroe in the position just behind Georginio Rutter, who was leading the line.
However, almost all of Piroe’s starts from January onwards came as a number nine, which was pretty clear evidence Farke was struggling to get the best out of him.
Piroe will undoubtedly want to be starting more frequently at Leeds, but that role of coming off the bench to kill matches seems to bring the best out of him.
Finishing is his best attribute, and when there is the space to showcase that like against Hull, Cardiff and Coventry City, is when he has made an impact.
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