BBC pundit issues verdict on Georginio Rutter display in Leeds win

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Jon Newsome seemed cautiously optimistic about the performance of Georginio Rutter in Leeds United’s win over Ipswich Town on Saturday, insisting that his goal was absolutely outstanding.

Newsome was speaking on BBC Radio Leeds after the Whites picked up their first victory of the campaign, beating the Tractor Boys at Portman Road.

It proved to be a significant day for Georginio Rutter. The Frenchman kept his place in the starting lineup. Of course, he had still been awaiting his first goal for the club following his move in the January transfer window.

But the wait is now over. Rutter got Leeds’ first of the afternoon. And it was a moment of brilliance from the 21-year-old. He collected the ball out wide on the right before driving in-field and finding the bottom corner.

Newsome praises Rutter after Leeds win

It was a superb finish. But the moment of magic came with the touch that saw Rutter burst past the defenders and into the box.

Newsome admitted that he was still not yet fully convinced by Rutter’s all-round game. But he suggested that it was clearly a step in the right direction. And of course, the goal was something special.

“It was one of the better performances I’ve seen from him,” he told BBC Radio Leeds. “There’s still plenty to work on. He’s got to improve in lots of areas. But there’s other parts of the game like the first goal which was just absolutely outstanding.”

Ultimately, Leeds made a mistake signing Rutter when they did. It did the player absolutely no favours coming in for a club-record fee at a time when the club were battling relegation and crying out for a striker.

It was quickly apparent that he was not ready for that sort of responsibility. And he ended up playing little part in the final games of the campaign.

That is not really his fault. And you have to give him massive credit for seemingly working so hard on stepping up this year. There has been little speculation about his future. And he has got on with what Daniel Farke has wanted from him.

Hopefully, there is a lot more to come from Rutter. Certainly, if his first goal is an indication of the player he could become, Leeds have indeed got a special talent on their hands.