Jon Newsome has told BBC Radio Leeds that Leeds United are really missing Rodrigo at the moment – admitting that that is something that he never thought he would have said six months ago.
Leeds’ trip to Fulham in the FA Cup on Tuesday proved to be a familiar story for the Whites. Javi Gracia’s side played a lot of good football at Craven Cottage. However, they simply could not find a way to put the ball into the back of the net.
And of course, Fulham did not have that same problem. Two brilliant goals ensured that Marco Silva’s men would be booking their spot in the quarter-final of the FA Cup.
Leeds missing Rodrigo
It brought us back down to earth after the relief of winning at the weekend. But we are now on a run of four games in which we have only scored one goal.
Georginio Rutter is still awaiting his first goal for the club. Meanwhile, Patrick Bamford has not scored for the Whites in his last eight appearances in all competitions.
And after watching Leeds’ display at Fulham, Newsome suggested that it is becoming so apparent just how much the Whites are struggling without Rodrigo.
“Six months ago, I never thought we’d say the words that we’re really missing Rodrigo and his goals, because last season, he just didn’t do it for us,” he told BBC Radio Leeds.
“But it’s there, it’s obvious for everyone to see that he does have that composure. He does have that belief and that touch in the final third.”
The £26 million signing sustained an injury after needlessly coming on against Accrington Stanley. Since then, we have played six games in all competitions. Leeds have scored three goals in those fixtures, and only two have come from Whites players.
Willy Gnonto scored in the opening minute at Old Trafford. And of course, Junior Firpo bagged the winner at the weekend. And we can hardly pretend that the left-back’s finish was top-class.
Rodrigo scored 12 goals before being sidelined. Meanwhile, no other player has scored more than four times – in all competitions.
Certainly, if something does not change, we are going to be back in big, big trouble by the time Rodrigo returns.
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