Pontus Jansson has endured a nightmare Easter Weekend with Leeds United losing in the Championship to Wigan Athletic and Brentford.
Dean Ashton admits he has his doubts about whether Pontus Jansson is Premier League quality after the Leeds United defender endured a miserable Easter weekend, speaking to Football League World.
Jansson has established himself as a real cult hero at Elland Road with his commanding defensive style and emotive social media presence earning him plenty of admirers in West Yorkshire.
But the Sweden international, who joined on a permanent basis from Torino in 2017 for a bargain fee of £3.5 million (YEP), has been well below his best in recent outings with Leeds’ automatic promotion hopes hanging by a thread.
He struggled without partner Liam Cooper during Friday’s shock 2-1 home defeat to 10-man Wigan Athletic and he was arguably at fault for Brentford’s opener as Marcelo Bielsa’s side lost again at Griffin Park on Monday. And Ashton believes that, while praising Cooper, Jansson could struggle to make the requisite step up.
“I think they’d need another centre back if they were to go up,” said the former West Ham United and Norwich City striker.
“I really rate Liam Cooper, but I’ve always had question marks over Pontus Jansson and whether he can step up to the Premier League.”
Ashton might have a point. The cult of Jansson’s personality might have overshadowed his weaknesses during the last three years, although his outstanding form in recent months cannot be underestimated.
Though if Leeds do manage to navigate the choppy waters of the play-offs, they will have to be ruthless this summer and Jansson must prove that he deserves to keep his place.
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