Robbie Gotts may have a long old way to go before he is back at the levels of Leeds United but, such is his influence at fourth-tier Barrow, the former Elland Road starlet is giving himself the best-possible chance of belatedly fulfilling that undoubted potential.
A graduate of the Leeds United youth system – their Academy Player of the Year back in 2020, no less – Marcelo Bielsa’s glowing praise of the then-teenage Gotts following his conversion from a right-back to an all-action midfielder appeared to point towards a big future in the first-team picture.
“I have never seen a player play with such a dynamic,” Bielsa said six years ago, when Gotts was still to make his senior debut. “He showed he deserved to play in the first-team.”
In the end, Gotts would manage to do just that only thrice in a Leeds career which promised much and delivered little.
Bielsa made a point of the competition Gotts faced for a first-team role at the time. Rather underwhelming loan spells at Lincoln City and Salford also cooled the excitement somewhat, though there was still a sense of surprise when Leeds opted to let the youngster go permanently back in 2021.
Another eyebrow-raising aspect was his eventual destination. Gotts moved to fourth-tier Barrow following their promotion from non-league. But has that step backwards belatedly laid the foundations for two huge steps in the right direction again?
Barrow may be limping along in the bottom half of League Two but Gotts’ stand-out displays should, in theory, pave the way for a climb back up the EFL pyramid when the transfer window opens again this summer.
Former Leeds United starlet Robbie Gotts finally living up to Marcelo Bielsa’s beliefs
Shortly after making his 150th Barrow appearance, Gotts produced arguably his finest display yet as Andy Whing’s team came from a goal down to beat MK Dons 2-1 on Tuesday night.
The Harrogate-born 25-year-old had scored once and assisted twice since the turn of the year, but this was a performance which highlighted the other side of his game.
Gotts was renowned in the Leeds’ academy for the broadness of his skillset. And the way he went about fulfilling his defensive duties to keep MK Dons playmaker Dan Crowley on the periphery will surely not have gone unnoticed from scouts in the league’s above.
“We’re some team if we get it right. It’s just confidence and self belief,” a delighted Whing told The Mail. “I think Gottsy summed up our performance.
“Dan Crowley’s one of the best players in the league. First-half he ran the show a little bit in terms of dictating play. I made Gottsy go man-to-man in the second half and I don’t think Crowley liked it very much.
“He did a great job. He stopped them playing a little bit.”
Elland Road graduate is putting himself in the League Two spotlight
Gotts made four successful tackles on the night. The second-highest tally of any Barrow player. He also ranks in the club’s top five across the entire season for assists, dribbles completed and crosses per 90.
They say the best ability is availability, meanwhile. And Gotts has played the 1,431 of the last 1440 minutes available in League Two.
“I thought we were outstanding [against MK Dons],” Whing added following a result which moves Barrow 14 points clear of the bottom two. “The work rate and defensive effort was brilliant. They showed how hard they work, that desire to keep the ball out of the net.
“Gottsy just epitomises that performance with how hard he had to work off the ball and he got his rewards.
“So did the team.”
Barrow, such is the gap between themselves and Morecambe in 23rd, looked destined to remain a League Two club for 2025/26.
Which division Robbie Gotts finds himself playing in, when next season begins, only time will tell.
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