It is difficult to pick a player in this Leeds United side and say they are not playing well at the moment. A 7-0 win over an in-form team like Cardiff City doesn’t happen if players aren’t performing.
But there are a few Leeds stars that may feel they could be do a lot better. He scored his eighth goal of the season on Saturday, but Brenden Aaronson set a goal of 30 goals and assists at the start of 2024-25.
Illan Meslier came under-fire after the 3-3 draw at Hull but he has since kept four clean sheets in a row, albeit largely thanks to his defence. Joel Piroe always has critics despite 17 goals and assists this season.
One player that has been under the microscope and probably, deservedly so is Mateo Joseph. Before his cameo role against Cardiff on Saturday, Joseph had just two goals this season – last scoring in October.
Brenden Aaronson hopes Mateo Joseph goal is a ‘turning point’
Pre-season promised much, with Joseph scoring against the likes of Hannover, Schalke and Valencia but he has failed to deliver in a Leeds shirt since, despite doing so while with Spain’s Under-21 side this term.
Piroe is now first choice and another striker might arrive at Elland Road before Monday’s deadline. But Aaronson told BBC Radio Leeds that Joseph’s goal on Saturday could be a “turning point” for the striker.
“Mateo is one of my good friends first of all, he’s a young kid and he’s been struggling to score goals – everyone knows that. Strikers go through this. But what I love about Mateo is that he stays hungry.
“He wants to keep working, everyday after training he’s asking me to do stuff today, tomorrow. Really hungry kid, he’s got a huge future ahead of him and hopefully, this is a turning point for him,” he said.
Does a new striker make sense – or does it disrupt Mateo Joseph?
Leeds fans are desperate for the club to bring in a new striker with Cameron Archer the likeliest target. The Southampton ace was not involved on Saturday and Leeds are planning a new bid to sign Archer.
But with Piroe now on 17 goals and assists, does Archer really improve Leeds’ starting striker? And if Archer does then join as back-up, surely it just gets in the way of Joseph improving in a Leeds shirt?
Joseph has enormous potential, proven by his form in pre-season and for Spain’s U21’s. Spain are even keeping an eye on Joseph for the 2026 World Cup. He needs a path and space to go and shine.
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