Confidence is a hell of a thing in football, and arguably no one epitomises that better than a player who has rediscovered his golden touch right in time for Leeds United’s Championship run-in.
While Dan James ended a seven-game goal drought against Luton Town, while Brenden Aaronson looks that little bit sharper too after a similarly lengthy barren run in the final third, it’s fair to say Manor Solomon has silenced those questioning his own contributions to the Elland Road cause.
There were sections of the home support wondering if Daniel Farke should drop Solomon after the Tottenham Hotspur loanee found himself on an eight-game run without either a goal or an assist.
Solomon set up Leeds United’s winner at Middlesbrough in midweek; The Israel international’s second-minute cross converted at the far post as Dan James scored his 25th goal under namesake Farke.
And as Farke ruled James out of Saturday’s clash with Preston North End due to a hamstring injury, Solomon certainly rose to the challenge. Stepping up in style in the absence of his fellow wing wonder.
Manor Solomon ‘outstanding’ as he fires Leeds United past Preston
Manor Solomon was likened to Liverpool’s Luiz Diaz in the Israeli press a couple of months ago. The former Shakhtar Donetsk and Fulham winger had now, however, produced too many of those trademark, Diaz-like right-footed from outside the box in a Leeds shirt.
Well, until today, that is.
Solomon skipped inside and whipped a sublime finish into the far corner of the Preston net. He then turned provider for Jayden Bogle’s winner, Leeds once again flying out of the blocks with two goals inside in the first quarter of an hour.
“My Player of the Match,” Sky Sports commentator Adam Virgo said later in the afternoon, Solomon’s exhilarating early start enough to secure himself yet another individual accolade.
“He’s been outstanding. Not just his outstanding goal, his assist [too].”
Solomon now has eight goals and ten assists as a Leeds player. On days like this – when his radar is finely-tuned and his footwork is at it’s most fanciful – the £15 million fee Tottenham are understood to be demanding feels like a particularly sound investment.
Daniel Farke’s Leeds move five points clear of Sheffield United
Furthermore, as Sheffield United suffered a third successive league defeat, the gap between Leeds in first and The Blades in third now stands at five points with only four games remaining.
Fortunately, ‘Blades’ works as a pretty effective replacement for ‘Leeds’ in that re-imagining of a Joy Division classic.
“We’ll celebrate everything we can get,” former Leeds defender Aidy White tells BBC Sport. “The points between us and Sheffield Untied is a decent gap but it’s not over yet.
It’s important we get this done as quick as we can. If we keep picking up the points we’ll see ourselves over the line. We’ve certainly not wobbled as much as Sheffield United.
“The lads have managed to ride the pressure really well.
“[Matchwinner] Jayden Bogle has been sensational. He’s carried the ball up the pitch so well throughout the game.”
From right-back, the rampaging Bogle now has six league goals this term.
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