Noel Whelan has criticised Tyler Roberts’s performance for Leeds United in the Premier League so far, claiming that he hasn’t done anything yet this season.
It’s been a subdued start to life in the top flight for the Wales international, who played a big role in helping the Whites to promotion last term.
Roberts has managed six Premier League appearances since then – two have come from the first XI – but the playmaker is yet to score or even set up a goal.
The 21-year-old, a £4 million signing three years ago, drew another blank on Saturday after coming off the bench in the 4-1 demolition away to Crystal Palace, but he couldn’t influence much during his 20 minutes on the field.
And former Leeds hitman Whelan has questioned his role so far, claiming that if not for absences for Pablo Hernandez and Rodrigo then the former West Brom attacker would be struggling in a big way for regular football.
He told BBC West Yorkshire Sport: “I’ve not seen him do anything this season quite frankly. He’s struggling for confidence, struggling to find form. If we had players like Pablo Hernandez and Rodrigo then maybe he doesn’t get that game time.”
It’s worth pointing out that Roberts is still only 21 and hasn’t even finished developing yet.
He clearly isn’t the finished article, but Bielsa is evidently a fan and if he has the Argentine’s backing then that goes a long way, given that the veteran coach has also always believed in Patrick Bamford and he’s been proven right this season.
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