Graham Smyth names the summer signing who Leeds United fans ‘slept on’, says he’ll surprise everyone

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The jury is still out on a lot of Leeds United’s summer signings. But Graham Smyth thinks one will prove everyone wrong this season.

Leeds United signed 10 new players this summer, spending around £100million in the transfer market, but still leaving themselves short in attack.

Defensively, and in midfield, Leeds look solid. Daniel Farke’s side have kept two clean sheets in their opening three Premier League matches, albeit conceding five against Arsenal in between.

Up the other end of the pitch, however, it’s a struggle. Leeds haven’t scored from open play in the league this season, with just one goal which came from the penalty spot in their opening round win over Everton.

Leeds United wanted attacking signings on deadline day but couldn’t get any over the line. Farke now faces a tough run through to January, made tougher by the fact that Lukas Nmecha and Joel Piroe are injury doubts for the Fulham game this weekend.

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Graham Smyth makes Sean Longstaff prediction at Leeds United

One player who arrived at Elland Road this summer was Sean Longstaff. For over a year, Leeds wanted to sign the former Newcastle United man, and in the end Leeds United signed Longstaff for around £15million after some back and forth with the Magpies.

Initially quite a slow start, Longstaff was Leeds’ Man of the Match against Newcastle United last time out, in what was his first start for the club. Speaking on Inside Elland Road, journalist Graham Smyth has backed Longstaff to really surprise fans this season.

Smyth said: “Longstaff was the shining example I think, against Newcastle, and just going off that one game is foolish, but if Longstaff plays like that more often than not I think he’ll be signing of the season.

“I just think with his Premier League experience as well, I think that could be really, really valuable in finding ways to win games or in rustling the opposition, to the point that it really starts to upset them.

“I think Longstaff could be the one. He could be the surprise one that maybe people slept on him a little bit when he was signed. And I just wonder if he might be the Rothwell of the group, the one that kind of surpasses all expectations.”

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Sean Longstaff’s record vs Fulham is incredible

Longstaff’s performance against Newcastle last time out suggested that he’s now up to speed and familiar with what Farke wants from him in the Leeds United side.

Up next, Leeds take on Fulham at Craven Cottage, and Longstaff surely keeps his spot in the side. Interestingly, the 27-year-old Longstaff has an incredible record playing against Fulham, winning six of seven career games against the West Londoners.

Longstaff is someone who Farke wanted for a long time: now a Premier League side, Longstaff adds definite top flight experience and quality and we saw that in the last game.

Like Smyth says, he may not be a real glamour signing, but he might just be exactly what Leeds United need in their fight to stay in the Premier League this season, so there’s every chance that Longstaff eventually proves himself to be a real hero for the club this time round.