Tony Dorigo has praised the pre-season performances of Mateo Joseph and backed the youngster to be a success if he gets a chance for Leeds United this season.
Dorigo was speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post after the Whites saw both Georginio Rutter and Patrick Bamford go off injured in their final pre-season game against Hearts at the weekend.
Certainly, supporters’ anxiety has only ramped up ahead of the curtain-raiser on Sunday. It had already been a summer which had seen Leeds emerge from the blocks slowly for various reasons.
Dorigo praises pre-season displays of Leeds youngster Mateo Joseph
With Rutter and Bamford now sidelined, Daniel Farke is facing a headache over who will lead the line against Cardiff City this weekend.
It is hard to imagine that Leeds will welcome a new striker signing in time given the lack of links around right now. So Mateo Joseph is definitely in contention to get the nod.
Dorigo acknowledged that the step-up from the under-21s is a large one. However, he praised the youngster’s displays over the summer. And he backed him to take his opportunity if it comes his way.
“Young Mateo Joseph finished Sunday’s friendly against Hearts in the No9 role after Rutter and then Bamford went off injured and he is one of the players that I thought impressed in pre-season,” he told the Yorkshire Evening Post.
“He was brought on to play down that left channel a couple of times and looked very good. I could see he was really frustrated in the last game because he was so close to getting through and getting on the end of a couple against Hearts.
“Suddenly a goal or two makes things very, very different but we all know that he has been banging them in for the under-21s. The first team is a step up and obviously it’s very different. He is a striker and he wants a chance so if he does get it then I’m sure that with the right service he’ll actually do quite well.”
It is a worrying situation heading into the new campaign. Leeds fans know better than most how difficult it becomes to bounce back and make an immediate return to the Premier League if you fail to build any momentum immediately.
And the number of injuries Farke is already dealing with is concerning. Leeds’ squad still boasts a lot of real quality. But much of that will be sat in the stands this weekend.
Hopefully it inspires players like Joseph if they do get the chance. Dropping down to the Championship has the potential to help the likes of the 19-year-old, as well as Darko Gyabi and Charlie Cresswell.
Certainly, Farke’s first lineup is going to be fascinating to see.
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