Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United reign saw a number of talented players arrive at the club. But not all of them enjoyed such positive spells at Elland Road.
Daniel Farke is now the man in charge at Elland Road, and he has Leeds United on course to challenge for automatic promotion to the Premier League this season.
On Tuesday night, Leeds United thumped Middlesbrough 3-1 and found themselves in 1st place of the Championship table for about 24 hours.
That was until title rivals Sheffield United won 1-0 at Millwall, following news that the Blades’ takeover is in its final stages.
Elsewhere in the top six, Sunderland have dropped right off from 1st place into 4th. At one point they had a five-point lead at the top, but now they sit five points behind leaders Sheffield United.
And the Black Cats boast a very familiar name in their ranks in Ian Poveda. But the former Leeds man is enduring a nightmare season so far.
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Ian Poveda enduring Sunderland nightmare after Leeds United exit
At the end of last season, Poveda was released by Leeds United following three-and-a-half seasons with the club.
The one-cap Colombian international left with just 30 first-team appearances to his name, no goals and one assist, leaving Elland Road on loan on three separate occasions.
In the second half of last season, Poveda joined Sheffield Wednesday on loan where he scored once and assisted once in 10 league outings.
But Poveda thoroughly impressed at Sheffield Wednesday and had plenty of suitors during the summer, though it was Sunderland who eventually signed him.
Since, however, Poveda has played just 44 minutes off football for his new club, making three substitute appearances and having been sidelined since the start of October, with a January return touted.
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Marcelo Bielsa personally signed Ian Poveda at Leeds United
Poveda missed his Leeds United reunion with Sunderland earlier in the season, picking up an injury in the game right before the two teams met at the Stadium of Light.
It would’ve been an emotional reunion against the club that really gave him his chance in senior football, with Poveda having spent time in some huge youth academies before moving to Leeds, albeit without ever really making an impression.
Poveda counts both Manchester City and Barcelona among his clubs. But he never made a first-team appearance for either.
In fact, Leeds handed Poveda his senior league debut in football after then boss Marcelo Bielsa personally sought out the signing.
It was reported that the time that Bielsa rang up Poveda himself, looking to tempt him into signing for Leeds United whilst he was on the books at City.
Poveda was a player who clearly had talent. But injury continues to hold him back.
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