Jermaine Beckford has said the best of Noah Okafor is still to come, and Leeds United are finally starting to see exactly why.
Beckford’s verdict on LUTV’s Matchday Live: The Verdict lands at the right time. Okafor has just delivered three goals in two games, including a brace against Manchester United and a follow-up strike against Wolves.
Those contributions have pushed Leeds to the brink of Premier League safety and shifted the narrative around a player whose first season has been anything but straightforward.
Okafor delivers when Leeds needed it most
There is no getting away from the timing. Okafor’s brace at Old Trafford was not just his best moment in a Leeds shirt, it was one of the club’s biggest results of the season.
DISCUSS: Adam Underwood has finally been proven right with Okafor…
A huge week for Okafor!
He followed that with another goal against Wolves days later, making it three in two games. For a side fighting to secure their top-flight status, those are decisive contributions.
Leeds have relied on collective effort for much of the campaign, but in these moments, Okafor has stepped up as the difference-maker.
The numbers show Noah Okafor is finding his level
Across the season, Okafor has scored seven Premier League goals in 26 appearances. It is a solid return when viewed in isolation, but the underlying numbers add more weight.
He is averaging roughly 0.44 goals per 90 minutes, with expected goals data also pointing to consistent chances falling his way. That suggests a forward who is getting into the right positions, even if his rhythm has not always been there.
For an £18m signing adapting to a new league, those figures point towards a player growing into his role rather than struggling. He is getting better, with rhythm previously interrupted due to injury.
Injuries have masked the real Noah Okafor
The bigger picture explains why Okafor has only now hit this level. His campaign has been disrupted at multiple points. A muscle injury early in the season slowed his initial integration.
A hamstring issue between February and March then halted his progress just as he was building momentum. More recently, a back problem added another setback.
That stop-start pattern has limited both his minutes and his consistency. It has also delayed the point where Leeds could see him fully fit and playing regularly.
Now that run of games is coming together, the difference is clear. His movement is sharper, his decision-making more direct, and his willingness to take on defenders stands out.
Beckford’s verdict points to what comes next
Speaking on Okafor’s recent form, Beckford summed it up in simple terms.
“As a forward, you want to feel loved and appreciated. You only really get that when you’re on the pitch, scoring goals and getting assists. The last couple of games, we’re starting to see the best of him.
“We’ve not seen the best of him, the best is yet to come. That’s down to his pre-season wasn’t fantastic, injuries in the first half of the season, now we’re seeing him play regularly, the confidence is there.
“He lines up defenders, not afraid to have a shot or a cross, we’re seeing it. I’m looking forward to seeing a 100% fit, fully firing Okafor next season because if this is a taster of what’s to come, I like what I see.”
It is not hype. It is a striker recognising the signs of confidence returning.
Are we safe? Can we stop worrying now? 👊
Leeds are only now seeing the real Okafor
This is the key point. Okafor’s first season at Elland Road has not been defined by failure, but by interruption.
Now, with three goals in two games and consistent minutes behind him, the level is becoming clearer. Leeds have a forward who can influence big matches and deliver when it matters.
If this is the baseline of a fully fit Okafor, Beckford’s view looks well grounded in what is already happening on the pitch.
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