Tony Dorigo has praised Adam Forshaw for giving absolutely everything and suggested that the midfielder is going to be vital for Sam Allardyce as Leeds United look to survive in the Premier League.
Dorigo was speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post in the wake of another turbulent weekend for Leeds. The Whites restored a little cautious optimism with their narrow loss at Manchester City on Saturday.
And when Fulham dismantled Leicester, it appeared that Leeds may end up with another lifeline. However, wins for Everton and Nottingham Forest later on Monday have left the Whites 19th in the table.
Saturday’s clash with Newcastle may provide a better indication of whether Allardyce could genuinely keep Leeds up. But the Magpies are another brilliant outfit. And with that, Leeds probably do need to pick a team with Eddie Howe’s side’s strengths in mind.
That includes as strong a midfield as is possible for Leeds. And Tony Dorigo believes that Adam Forshaw is one of those who must be in the side.
Dorigo believes Adam Forshaw will be crucial for Leeds
“With Tyler Adams missing, we haven’t got that kind of player to replace him. Whoever comes in gives us a slightly different midfield. That’s one of those places where we need to get hold of games and we haven’t been able to do that,” he told the Yorkshire Evening Post.
“Adam Forshaw coming in at Manchester City was an obvious one because we can keep the ball, he’s got experience, but we’re asking a lot of him with his lack of gametime in recent years. He gives absolutely everything and if that is the way Sam Allardyce is going to go then Forshaw will be vital.
“He’s got other options, I thought he might possibly take a look at Max Wober in a midfield role but whichever route Allardyce takes, Leeds don’t have an ideal-world scenario here so Forshaw is probably the best fit.”
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Forshaw has shown that he can impress at the highest level. But unfortunately, it says everything about how little progress Leeds have made that the 31-year-old is looking set to be so important.
Forshaw has had terrible luck with injuries over the years. And yet, there was a long time where he remained the last first-team central midfielder to join the club.
Leeds have had to go back to Luke Ayling because Rasmus Kristensen has not been good enough. It is a similar story at centre-back when Liam Cooper is fit.
Now Forshaw is in contention to start our last four games this season. Meanwhile, many fans would probably take Stuart Dallas in the side if he was fit, and Mateusz Klich if he hadn’t left in January.
Forshaw deserves huge credit for battling back from so many setbacks. But Leeds should not have allowed it to get to the point where so many of the promotion heroes could still be vital.