Lucas Radebe pinpoints one Leeds player that gives him hope in relegation scrap

Lucas Radebe has told Premier League Productions that Willy Gnonto has been “absolutely great” and suggests he is the one player that gives Leeds United fans hope in the club’s fight to avoid relegation to the Championship this term.

Gnonto, 19, has come into the side at Elland Road after joining the club Zurich for a measly £4m in the summer. He has since been a ray of shining light in a dismal season – scoring four goals in 16 games for the relegation-threatened club.

But it is his ability to create something out of nothing, his moments of magic that have made him a fan favourite. If Leeds had taken their chances at a more-clinical rate, there is no doubt that Gnonto would have more than one assist.

Gnonto was a surprise omission from the starting line-up against Chelsea on Saturday, coming on for 22 minutes in the second half. But Leeds legend Radebe believes that if anyone is going to keep us up, then it is Italy star Gnonto.

“We are in a difficult position,” Radebe said. “We are hoping Javi Gracia will get us to stay up. The players are there. It’s just a matter of being ourselves – from now until the end of the season. We can’t leak a lot of goals.

“But the goals as well. We don’t seem to be scoring a lot of goals. We have Rodrigo missing and Bamford. Gnonto has been absolutely great. If we create chances, then we score goals and we have a chance,” Radebe added.

Lucas Radebe says Willy Gnonto is one player that gives Leeds fans hope

He’s not wrong and it was a huge surprise to see him omitted from the Leeds side on Saturday, with Chelsea struggling for options on the right of their defence. Reece James was missing with a muscle issue, Cesar Azpilicueta also sidelined.

Perhaps, Gracia missed a trick in that moment. But it will mean that Gnonto is fresh to face Brighton this weekend, with Leeds now running out of matches to keep themselves in the Premier League. Just one point above the drop zone.