Mateusz Bogusz has impressed the Leeds United supporters on several occasions following his arrival in January.
With Leeds’ form dipping while Izzy Brown was impressing for the under-23s around the turn of the year, it was not difficult to see why many of the Elland Road faithful felt that his senior debut could prove a pivotal moment in the Whites’ season.
Signing Brown was always a roll of the dice from Leeds. He was still several months away from a return to fitness when Chelsea sanctioned his season-long loan, but his performances for Carlos Corberan’s side hinted that the stage may be perfectly set for the attacking midfielder to come in in the final months of the campaign and see Leeds across the line in the promotion race.
Samuel Saiz’s exit and the Whites’ struggles during the latter stages of the winter only added to the belief that the script was being written for Brown.
However, few saw the current act playing out the way it has.
Brown has been in every matchday squad since the draw with Middlesbrough last month, and yet he has registered just one touch for the first-team having spent nine minutes out on the pitch.
Leeds have started to turn their form around without a great contribution from Brown. He could still have a massive role to play – there are too many twists and turns ahead to rule anything out – but it is becoming more and more difficult to argue with those who suggest that Bielsa is not as high on Brown as some may have expected him to be.
Brown is doing everything he can with impressive performances for the under-23s. But alongside him, there is another player who is definitely catching the eye.
Mateusz Bogusz was one of just two January signings for Leeds. But while Kiko Casilla was heralded as a brilliant addition, the jury initially remained out on the 17-year-old given how little was known about him.
However, Bogusz’s first few performances for the youngsters hint that Victor Orta may have uncovered another gem, and plenty of fans are now tipping the Pole for a first-team chances before the season ends.
That is a massive statement given how important every one of Leeds’ fixtures look set to be, and how little rotation Bielsa tends to do unless his hand is forced.
But while a first-team debut this season may look an ambitious target, perhaps one target the teenager can set is to take Brown’s spot in the pecking order before the campaign concludes.
It perhaps seems unlikely. Bielsa would be taking a big gamble to overlook Brown in favour of Bogusz when the stakes are so high. But if he is not convinced that Brown is going to make the desired impact, perhaps he should roll the dice and consider a player that the fans already have extremely high hopes for.
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