OPINION
Leeds United manager Paul Heckingbottom must reinstate Samuel Saiz to the starting XI on Wednesday night when his side travel to Derby County in the Championship.
The 27-year-old is available again for action after serving a six-game ban for spitting in an FA Cup defeat to Newport County.
The Yorkshire giants need to draw a line under the entire incident and hand him a second chance, which should start in midweek against Derby.
Leeds failed to win a single league game during Saiz’s spell on the sidelines and there can be no room to ease him back into the action.
The attacking midfielder was in brilliant form before his suspension, scoring nine goals and supplying five assists in 25 games across all competitions.
He has been a major miss due to his intelligence in the final third and should be unleashed upon a Derby side that lost 2-0 to Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend.
Saiz should be straight back into the side as a secondary striker and there is every chance Leeds could rip Derby apart if he combines with in-form pair Pablo Hernandez and Pierre-Michel Lasogga.
Heckingbottom’s side are currently eight points adrift of the play-off positions and with 14 games remaining really need to start closing the gap.
A big win away to promotion chasing Derby could give them the major lift they need and maestro Saiz could be the catalyst to get them back on track.