Leeds United have a very tricky game ahead of them, coming off a tense game against Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest.
A formidable list of fixtures makes it appear as if a victory for Daniel Farke’s Whites at the City Ground would be crucial to correcting the sour mood surrounding the Premier League’s new signings, with Aston Villa, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool on the table after this clash near the foothills of the division.
Losing to Tricky Trees and facing an onslaught of tough matches in the immediate aftermath could add to the pressure on Farke’s shoulders as he tries to steer his bottom side out of a relegation battle.
The German is likely to make some changes ahead of the important showdown in Nottinghamshire, with Brenden Aaronson among those in jeopardy for his starting spot on the right.
Why Aaronson can be on the bench
Aaronson has always been a bit of a controversial figure at Elland Road, and there’s no doubt that the American is prone to a poor performance or two away from occasionally lighting up the Premier League.
In October’s final game against West Ham United, the former Union Berlin playmaker was at his frightening best, scoring after three minutes.
Aaronson then won eight duels and completed all three of his dribbles to back that up.
That’s what made the hot-and-cold departure of the number 11 against Brighton & Hove Albion so frustrating, with Aaronson winning just three games and failing to register a single shot on goal as the Whites lost 3-0 on the south coast.
After all, Falke has pushed Aaronson into the starting lineup on the right side this season due to a spate of injuries during camp, and the No. 10 spot is far more suitable for the Championship title-winner.
Aaronson’s numbers by position at Leeds | ||
|---|---|---|
Position played | game | Goal + Assist |
morning | 63 | 9+5 |
RW | 15 | 1 + 0 |
R.M. | 4 | 0 |
C.F. | 2 | 0 |
LM | 2 | 0 |
Source: Transfermarkt | ||
In fact, the opener against Nuno Espirito Santo’s side was Aaronson’s first goal for Leeds without lining up in his more familiar attacking midfield position.
However, with the attacking star returning from injury, Aaronson’s time as Leeds’ key starter in the right channel is likely to be numbered. This is because there is a possibility that the ace in question, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has been hit or miss, may finally be sacked.
Leeds could unleash ‘unstoppable’ star
Leeds are not ready to give up on Calvert-Lewin just yet, despite the former Everton marksman starting a shaky life in West Yorkshire.
Although he has scored just one goal in eight Premier League appearances, he has also stopped five big chances along the way, meaning he is in a good position to at least add to his meager record at Los Blancos.
Manager Farke will be desperately trying to come up with a combination that gets the No. 9 in goal more regularly, perhaps with winger Daniel James, who Calvert-Lewin needs to bounce back to if he is to finally reach the purple patch at Elland Road.
Welshman James and Calvert-Lewin have only been side-by-side for just 34 minutes so far this season due to injury problems, but perhaps a brilliant partnership could now be set to be unearthed if the former Manchester United attacker replaces Aaronson in the starting XI away at Forest.
After all, James stole most of the headlines last season with a prolific score of 12 goals in the Championship, but he also provided nine assists, with the £25m trickster creating a total of 16 big chances.
That will be music to the ears of the former Toffees talisman, who has often cut out the lone figure next to Aaronson in this campaign.
And although he has only played 277 minutes at the top level so far, James is looking to seize one of this season’s big opportunities and once again be at his ‘unstoppable’ attacking best, as the tricky, front-footed attacker that Statman Dave once labeled him.
The worry will be whether Calvert-Lewin will follow through on the deal, but the former England international has an electric presence in him when he gets into form.
James also stood out as a good omen, winning on his last trip to the City Ground as a loanee with the Cottage, so Farke hopes this potential change will lead his team to a rare away win.
