OPINION
Manager Paul Heckingbottom has revealed that Leeds United winger Ezgjan Alioski is often too hard on himself, which is why he needs to change his mentality to become a regular in the side.
The assessment of the wide man is on the money and would explain why his form has nosedived dramatically in recent moths.
Alioski needs to start playing with more freedom and transforming into an attacker that can rip Championship defences to shreds.
The Macedonia international lit up Elland Road at the beginning of the season following his arrival and needs to try rediscover that confidence.
He is a trickster wide man with bags of ability and there should be no problem with him having an arrogance to his game.
Alioski has tremendous work-rate as he is prepared to do the dirty stuff defensively, but it’s in the final third he needs to be at his creatives best.
He came off the bench to score in the 2-2 draw with Derby County on Wednesday night and that should breathe fresh life into him as it was his first goal since November.
Alioski really does show glimpses of magic on the ball and that is why he must adapt his mentality to become a talisman in the Leeds starting XI.
His understanding with fellow attacker Samuel Saiz should help his cause and the wide positions are definitely still up for grabs under Heckingbottom.