OPINION
Trying to pick exactly which players have made the biggest impact to Leeds United’s title push this season is like a kid trying to choose what to have at the sweet shop – so many options with the obvious favourites but ultimately a near-impossible task.
That is because the Whites have seen nearly everyone who has played under Marcelo Bielsa hit the expected heights and their results have been brilliant as a result.
With a couple of crucial months ahead for the Argentine and his men, he has got to make sure that everyone retains their high standards – although there are a quartet who will be more important than ever.
That is the four Leeds wide men – both wingers and full backs – with former Premier League star and current Sky Sports pundit Danny Higginbotham highlighting just how crucial they are to the success of the side.
Delivering a detailed analysis on Sky Sports News’ Match Centre (07/03, 10:52), he said: “What I like about Leeds – it’s very different from Sheffield United – is they look to create space in the wide areas, they look to create two v one in the wide areas but not to use the wide areas – to drag the centre backs out which creates space in the middle.
“That’s why (Mateusz) Klichhas scored so many goals. They’re willing to be patient. They absolutely dismantled West Brom, they were magnificent. At times they will end up with four up front. It’s all about creating overloads in certain areas of the pitch to free up others.
“They are so good at doing it. It’s wonderful play. When they play to their capabilities, they are one of the best teams in the Championship.”
The pundit is absolutely bang on the money here – when those on the flanks play well, Leeds are at their best and failure to perform often leads to disappointment.
With no clear date set for Jack Clarke’s return, the quartet of senior stars seems set for the next couple of games, with Luke Ayling and Ezgjan Alioski in the full back roles and Jack Harrison and Pablo Hernandez operating further up the pitch.
Of those, only Hernandez would be considered to be a real game changer but as Higginbotham’s analysis suggests they are all going to be pivotal to this push for promotion and he is absolutely right – when in full flow, there are few better sides to watch in the second tier than the Whites.