‘Brilliant’: Sky Sports pundit now says Leeds have three players ‘too good’ for the Championship

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Don Goodman believes Leeds United attacking trio Georginio Rutter, Joel Piroe and Wilfried Gnonto are too good for the Championship.

Goodman was speaking on Sky Sports News (26/9 10.42am), where he claimed Leeds are now looking like a real force with the options Daniel Farke has at his disposal in the final third.

Piroe has never actually played in the Premier League but has established himself as a proven Championship goalscorer over the last two years at Swansea City.

The Dutchman has picked up where he left off in South Wales at Elland Road, scoring four goals in his first matches, forming a strong partnership with Rutter in attack.

Rutter is starting to show exactly why Leeds spent so heavily on him in January having scored two goals and provided two assists so far this season, with his display against Watford simply incredible from someone at this level.

Gnonto, meanwhile, is already a 13-time capped Italy international at just 19 and his quality out wide will prove menacing for several Championship defenders over the course of the campaign.

Goodman says Leeds trio good for Championship

As well as suggesting the aforementioned trio are ‘too good’ for the Championship, Goodman spoke of his admiration at how Farke handled a difficult summer and would be ‘shocked’ if Leeds aren’t in the top two.

He said: “Yes I think so, in those forward areas we’re starting to see genuine Championship quality, quality that’s probably too good for the Championship in Joel Piroe. I’m glad that Georginio Rutter has found his feet and found his confidence, throw into the mix (Willy) Gnonto and more behind that as well, their options are brilliant.

“Look, it was a really, really unsettled pre-season with all the comings and goings, contract clauses, and who was going to be there when the transfer window shut. Very, very difficult for Daniel Farke, and he kept his counsel, I was really impressed with the way he handled himself, and he backed himself knowing that it was only a matter of time before everything started to click into gear.

“You look at it now, and you see a team that, again like Leicester, you’d be really shocked it if they’re not up there challenging for the top two, and at the absolute minimum, top six. As a Leeds lad, I’m really pleased to see things have settled down.”

Leeds really look as though they are clicking into gear under Farke but Saturday’s trip to Southampton could provide a real acid test, regardless of their recent form.

Southampton currently have the worst defensive record in the league and if Leeds‘ attacking players can really quick, they could cause them some real problems.