Leeds United’s Samu Saiz has majorly struggled this season.
Andy Couzens has admitted to LS11 on YouTube that Leeds United attacker Samu Saiz ‘could be world class’ – but raised concerns about the star’s weight.
Saiz might be the most talented footballer in Marcelo Bielsa’s squad, along with Pablo Hernandez, but the former Huesca star has struggled this season.
The 27-year-old, who is yet to score in 16 Championship appearances, has been dropped by Bielsa in Leeds’ last three league games – one draw, one win and one defeat.
Former Whites midfielder Couzens told LS11 on YouTube: “He’s got great attributes, could be world class, but he’s overweight, not fit enough and can’t last 90 minutes. They’re facts. You watch a game on a Saturday and they’re facts. That’s why he isn’t playing at this moment in time.
“That’s why he’s coming on for maybe 20 or 30 minutes. I know for a fact he came back [to pre-season training] unfit. He was the biggest guy there.”
It’s a very cutting assessment from Couzens and it remains to be seen if the Spaniard – who has completed 90 minutes on one occasion since September – returns to Bielsa’s first XI on Saturday for the visit of Bristol City.
Adam Forshaw has been playing ahead of Saiz – a £3 million signing in 2017 [Yorkshire Evening Post] – so he might well miss out again.
Bielsa is known for his man-management skills, getting the very best out of his players, and it’s completely in Leeds’ interest that he does the same with Saiz. If the Argentine can get a player of that quality to produce every week, promotion to the Premier League will be a lot easier.
He scored five goals and set up seven in 34 Championship games last season, after again going off the boil at various points throughout a testing campaign.
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