The Leeds United man broke his duck on Saturday evening.
Former Leeds United left-back Ben Parker has told TV Yorkshire that Kemar Roofe deserves credit for the perseverance he showed in ending his goal drought.
The 23-year-old opened the scoring in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Elland Road to end a 22-match barren spell with the Whites.
It had taken quite a while and Roofe – a £3 million signing from Oxford United in the summer – had lamented the “curse” hanging over him after hitting the post in the League Cup defeat at Liverpool last week.
Perhaps the eureka moment came when manager Garry Monk took him off the wing and began using him in a number 10 role in the absence of Pablo Hernandez.
And Parker, who spent seven years on Leeds’ books until 2012, says that the goal is testament to Roofe’s attitude.
“Exactly and it [the goal] is a testament to Roofe as well,” he told TV Yorkshire. “We’ve seen a lot players come and go here who were bought for a bit of money and not lived up to expectations and kind of fell to one side.
“He’s had a difficult start – he’ll be the first to hold his hands up – but it looks like he’s found a position where he’s most comfortable.
“He was stuck out wide earlier in the season but in that central position he looks a threat. He’s got pace, trickery, he can score goals and set them up.”
Roofe netted 26 times for Oxford last season and if Monk can help him rekindle that sort of goalscoring form then it will go a long, long way to helping their promotion chances.
Leeds are still sort of reliant on Chris Wood – who scored the second goal on Saturday – to come up with the goods, but another string in United’s bow would do no harm at all.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
