Georginio Rutter has been playing in a slightly different role for Leeds United in the last few weeks.
The 21-year-old had spent pretty much the entire first half of the season leading the line, with Joel Piroe just in behind. It was a partnership that worked on several occasions, but there were some weaknesses.
Both are very much players who like having the ball into feet and so given Rutter’s tendency to drop deep and get involved with build-up, Leeds would often be without a focal point who can occupy and get in behind defences.
In home matches it wasn’t much of a problem, but on the road it was a different story. With that in mind, since the turn of the New Year, Rutter has moved into the number 10 position, with Patrick Bamford leading the line, and Piroe on the bench.
Speaking in an interview with LUTV, Rutter was asked about his positional change and playing alongside Bamford. He believes the 30-year-old is a big help to his game, as his movement ‘in the box’ is the ‘best’ in the squad.
Rutter hails Bamford’s off the ball movement
He said: “It’s different because Patrick is experienced. In the box he is the best because he moves very clever and he helps me a lot. When I was coming here, I could see that. Patrick is a good striker, I know it was difficult for him before and now I am happy and we can see what he can do in the games.”
Since making his first start of the season on New Year’s Day, the £7 million signing from Middlesbrough in 2018 has hit a real purple patch in front of goal, with four in five matches.
He has quickly become one of the team’s most important players again as like Rutter said, his movement is something that no one else in the squad can offer.
During the first half of the campaign, Bamford had been restricted to just solely brief substitute appearances. He was barely making an impact and his teammates weren’t used to those runs he was making.
Now, though, BBC pundit Leigh Bromby believes he could be the man to fire Leeds to promotion, if he continues scoring at this current rate.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
