Leeds United have published their latest inside training video ahead of Coventry City’s trip to Elland Road on Saturday.
Daniel Farke‘s side have had a full week of preparation at Thorp Arch and based on his latest injury update, it was certainly needed.
Manor Solomon and Max Wober have both been ruled out, while Pascal Struijk, Junior Firpo and Patrick Bamford have all missed at least one session this week.
Thankfully Struijk and Bamford were both spotted in Leeds’ latest video but the former’s involvement is going to depend on whether he comes through today’s session unscathed.
Here are three things we spotted from Leeds‘ new footage.
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Joe Rodon displays surprise finishing ability
Joe Rodon will be making his 58th appearance in a Leeds shirt against Coventry but is still yet to score a single goal.
With his aerial presence, Rodon should be considerably more of a threat from set-pieces than he actually is. As such, he is a fairly big part of the reason Leeds haven’t scored a single goal directly from a corner since Boxing Day.
£10m man Rodon has registered an expected goals (xG) tally of 1.96 since being at Leeds which means he should really have bagged a couple by now. He also missed a sitter for Wales during the recent international break.
However, in Leeds’ latest inside training video, Rodon did actually show he has the ability to find the back of the net. After driving a few yards with the ball during a small-sided match, Rodon confidently finished past Alex Cairns into the bottom corner. Hopefully it isn’t too long before he shows that in a real match.
Mateo Joseph is a beast physically
The only real criticism that can be aimed at Mateo Joseph so far is his finishing. He should be on more than the solitary goal he got against Hull City.
That said, you would have no idea he isn’t even into double figures for senior starts yet with how well he can handle himself physically against big defenders.
Joseph proved that for his assist for Largie Ramazani at Cardiff last weekend, and again in this latest training video, up against one of the division’s strongest centre-backs Struijk.
Struijk was seen fighting with everything he’s got to try and move Joseph aside and win back possession, but the Spaniard held firm and found a lay-off for Ilia Gruev to score a deflected strike. Brilliant signs.
Ao Tanaka and Pascal Struijk passing drill link-up
Much of the frustration from Leeds fans this season has been about the lack of tempo in the passing, particularly at the back.
Struijk (first) Rodon (second), Gruev (12th) and Ethan Ampadu (14th) are all in the top 14 of the Championship for the most number of accurate passes played. That is all well and good, but the majority of them are among themselves.
A backwards pass from Gruev even prompted boos from Leeds’ away end at Cardiff, with the more forward thinking presence of Ao Tanaka seemingly wanted by many.
Tanaka is likely to play in that left channel with Struijk and Junior Firpo once he does eventually come into the team, and the Japanese’s link-up with the former in training is a positive sign.
The two were both in close proximity during a passing drill but showed some quick, incisive footwork to get themselves out of trouble and get the ball wide.
That sort of tempo is exactly what Leeds fans are crying out for and so as the schedule ramps up over the next week, hopefully Tanaka gets his chance.
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