Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has described one of the fringe members of his squad as the best finisher he has worked with, despite managing Alexander Isak at Borussia Dortmund.
Daniel Farke is making several Leeds players wait for their chance in the Premier League, electing to stick with a settled squad in the opening stages of the season.
The Slovenian head coach has admitted that Jaka Bijol will be forced to wait for his chance in the Leeds first team, while Sebastiaan Bornauw has been restricted to one appearance in the EFL Cup against Sheffield Wednesday.
Joel Piroe started the season opener against Everton and the game against Arsenal, but has not featured since, with Farke placing his trust in new signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin to lead the line.
With Piroe fighting for his place in the squad to face Tottenham, Farke has praised him as “world-class” despite becoming a peripheral figure at Elland Road.
Daniel Farke praises “world-class” Joel Piroe
Farke worked with Liverpool’s blockbuster summer signing, Isak, during his time as the manager of Dortmund’s reserve side in 2017. Speaking in his weekly press conference ahead of Tottenham’s visit to Elland Road, Farke explained his dilemma over Piroe, as he remains out of the first team picture at Leeds.
With Willy Gnonto, Dan James and Harry Gray all doubtful for the game against Spurs, Piroe could return to take his place on the Leeds bench, and Farke praised his finishing ability after a prolific season in the Championship.
Farke said: “It’s always difficult when you had such an outstanding last season. Everyone is singing your name, and you win the Golden Boot, and you’re more the main man for us and our offence.
“You start the season in the starting line-up against Everton, and also in the second game, had a great pre-season. Then you have a period when he perhaps doesn’t play that many minutes, or in the last two games, not one minute, and one time not in the squad, of course, it’s tough.
“Especially when you have a player like Joel who is giving his everything, who has worked on his fitness level a lot, who is a top-class character, who is, for me, the best finisher I’ve ever worked with, and I have some good finishers.
“But if you want to have a player with a ball at his feet out of 20 yards, then I would always go for Joël Piroe because he’s an unbelievable finisher and in these terms really world-class.
He added: “He’s not the physical target striker where you play the ball and he holds the ball. He’s smart in his movements. When there is a bit more space, he can also play as a number 10.
“He can play behind one striker who creates a bit of space, and then he goes into the holes and finishes. I’m 100% sure that during the season, Joel Piroe’s strengths are needed.”
Championship golden boot winner may be forced to wait for Premier League chance
Leeds have prioritised recruiting players with a strong, physical presence for their return to the Premier League, and no player exemplifies their approach more than Piroe’s rival, Calvert-Lewin.
Although Calvert-Lewin has been criticised at times for missing chances, his hold-up play is excellent and he contributes a lot to the Leeds attack.
There is a clear contrast between Calvert-Lewin and Piroe’s effectiveness in the air, which Farke has prioritised this season. According to Fotmob, Calvert-Lewin has won 41.4% of his aerial duels in his appearances for Leeds this season.
By contrast, Piroe won just 21.4% of his aerial duels across the whole of the Championship last season. The standard of defending has dramatically increased this season, and this stat highlights why Piroe has struggled to get into the Leeds team.
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