Matt Kilgallon has told BBC Radio Leeds that he was really impressed by Weston McKennie in Leeds United’s midfield in their loss to Manchester United on Sunday, and suggested that he was proved wrong by the January signing lasting almost the entirety of the game.
McKennie has been handed a tough task for his first two starts in the Premier League. He was excellent away at Old Trafford in midweek. And with Marc Roca still sidelined with injury, the Juventus loanee kept his place alongside Tyler Adams this weekend.
Obviously, the day ended in agonising fashion for Leeds, with the visitors winning 2-0 thanks to two late goals. But there were a number of superb performances. And McKennie provided one of them.
McKennie praised after Leeds defeat
The American was exceptional in the first-half. And he helped set the tone with an amazing, full-blooded tackle on Tyrell Malacia.
It is hard to take too many positives from what happened on Sunday in the hours after the game. But Kilgallon suggested that he was really impressed by what he saw from McKennie in the loss. And he hinted that it bodes well for the rest of the campaign.
“He started really well. Forward runs, getting in behind Bamford, loads of energy, put a crunching tackle in. I like him,” he told BBC Radio Leeds.
“Great leap on him, got a good presence in there. Does a good job. They’re good mates, aren’t they, Adams and McKennie, so you can almost see that they’re loving playing together. Hopefully, a strong partnership.
“He definitely knows when to sit and when to go. He’s not just running round. He keeps his shape, he knows when there’s a bit of danger. I was impressed with him. Coming in, I was thinking is he going to last the full 90? But no, he looked all good.”
Of course, we are only a few hours removed from the full-time whistle. So it is really hard to not be too negative about the result. But a look at the Premier League table suggests that Leeds need a remarkable turnaround to keep themselves in the division.
Obviously, no supporter needs to be told about what relegation would mean. But it would be particularly frustrating when there is so much talent in the current ranks.
Certainly, Tyler Adams and McKennie could form a superb partnership, along with Roca. And if we stay up, that could be something to build the team around for years to come.
We need our fortunes to turn around quickly. The positive news is that there is enough ability to drag ourselves out of danger. But the tide needs to start turning.
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