Adam Forshaw has been excellent in the early stages of the new Championship season, but Leeds United are struggling at home.
When Leeds fans consider the player who has provided the biggest surprise of the season with their form, it is likely that plenty will suggest Adam Forshaw ahead of the likes of Stuart Dallas and Ben White.
Despite Marcelo Bielsa showing a lot of faith in Forshaw during his first year at Elland Road, the supporters were largely unconvinced about the 27-year-old, particularly as he was often used in the role that had transformed Kalvin Phillips.
But Bielsa’s faith in the midfielder has been vindicated as he has been excellent in the middle of the park at the start of this term. His industrious performances appear to have helped Phillips, as he is able to concentrate on pulling the strings and dictating the play.
However, Leeds go into this international break with a problem that Bielsa will need to address – and that is the club’s form at home.
It is strange to say given that Leeds are third in the table, but results at Elland Road have not been good enough, with four points coming from three games in front of their own fans.
What is particularly worrying, after the events of last season, is United’s current struggles to put the ball into the back of the net, with only two goals scored at home so far. Two of the current bottom three have scored more goals at home this term.
Of course, Forshaw is not solely to blame for Leeds’ struggles. But he may, unfortunately, be at the heart of the potential solution to the problem.
Generally, teams have come to Elland Road looking to frustrate Leeds and soak up as much pressure as possible, as they know how dangerous Bielsa’s side can be when gaps open up.
Remarkably, the Whites have faced just four attempts on target across their three homes games – which tells you something about the dominance that they tend to enjoy when playing at Elland Road.
While Bielsa will be wary of upsetting the balance too much, those statistics suggest that Leeds can afford to throw an extra attacking player into their lineup, particularly when they are at home.
And with Forshaw looking, on paper, like the player amongst the front five least likely to bag a goal – he is yet to score for Leeds – it may be worth considering leaving the Englishman out of the team when Leeds are at home, and instead bringing Helder Costa into the lineup.
Costa – who is still awaiting his first league start – can then move out onto the right, and Pablo Hernandez can start in the middle and be given an ability to roam in the same way that Phillips does at the other end of the pitch.
Costa has shown that he does have that touch of class. He was unlucky not to score at Stoke after a brilliant move led to a sumptuous effort from outside the box, and he then opened his account against the same opposition when they met in the cup days later.
Forshaw absolutely has an important role to play this season, particularly when Leeds are away from home and have to expect teams to show some real intent.
But when Leeds are at home and up against a side that will happily take a point away from Elland Road, leaving him out to get Costa into the team could perhaps make a real difference.
Teams may be powerless to stop a Leeds front five consisting of Hernandez, Costa, Jack Harrison, Mateusz Klich and one of either Patrick Bamford and Eddie Nketiah.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
