Phil Hay says Jaidon Anthony now has a real chance to stake a claim for a starting spot at Leeds United.
Hay was speaking on the latest episode of the Square Ball Podcast, where he touted tomorrow’s match with Queens Park Rangers as the ideal time to hand him his full debut.
Since joining on loan from Bournemouth on deadline day, Anthony has come off the bench in all four of his appearances for Leeds so far.
Aside from the 0-0 draw at Hull City when Leeds were down to 10 men, Anthony has made a difference in each of those matches, including when he scored a superb goal in the win over Watford.
Leeds produced comfortably their worst performance of the season at Southampton on Saturday and it is likely Daniel Farke will make changes to his starting XI, with Anthony potentially one to come in.
Hay says Anthony now has real chance to make Leeds impact
Previewing tomorrow’s game against QPR, Hay says in the absence of Wilfried Gnonto, Anthony now has a ‘great chance’ to ‘come to the fore’ at Elland Road and nail down a regular spot.
He said: “Is this possibly a good night for Jaidon Anthony to make his debut? I think that could be justified… he’s a really good Championship player, he was very effective for Bournemouth in this league and I think will be for Leeds as well.
“In the absence of Gnonto, who’s gone for surgery and will be missing for a few weeks, someone like Anthony, this is a great chance for him to come to the fore and start making a difference.”
There is little to no doubt that Anthony is deserving of his full debut against QPR tomorrow based on the cameos we have seen from him so far.
Dan James was again ineffective on Saturday afternoon and bringing Anthony into the XI in his place on the left, with Crysencio Summerville moving to the other side, feels logical.
A big performance from the 23-year-old could then mean that spot on the left is his to lose, with Gnonto not scheduled to return until after the international break.
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