Micah Richards says Joel Piroe is a player he really enjoys watching and thinks he has been ‘excellent’ for Leeds United this season.
Piroe made the £10.5 million switch from Swansea City in the summer and has since gone onto start all 19 matches in the Championship, scoring eight goals.
The 24-year-old was seen as the clinical front man Leeds have needed for some time but has played just in behind Georginio Rutter for much of the season, a dynamic which has worked well at times.
Speaking on the Rest is Football Podcast, Richards spoke of how much he likes Piroe as a player, listing his versatility and ability to ‘link the play’ as two of his top attributes.
He said: “I like Piroe at Leeds. He’s like a striker, number 10. Really intelligent, really good on the ball. Can play number 10 or number nine. Links the play well. He’s been excellent for Leeds this season.”
Piroe has been up and down for Leeds
With four goals in his first six appearances, Piroe made a really bright start to his career at Leeds but has seen his return in front of goal dry up in the last couple of months, particularly away from home.
Piroe has just four goals in his last 14 matches in the Championship, with his last one on the road coming all the way back in September at Millwall, a return which he will definitely be disappointed with.
Much of Leeds’ attacking play either goes through the two wingers, or Rutter, and so when Piroe is not scoring, there have been question marks as to what he offers the team.
BBC pundit Leigh Bromby was not impressed with his involvement in Saturday’s draw with Coventry City, and perhaps he could do with a little spell out of the team over the busy Christmas period.
That said, Leeds do need to start getting him into more goalscoring positions and whether that comes by a little positional change with Rutter, is up to Daniel Farke.
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