Matt Grimes struggled at Leeds, but is on fire at Northampton Town.
Playmaker Matt Grimes struggled at Elland Road during the 2016-17 season, after Garry Monk decided to bring the England youth international to Leeds United from former side Swansea City.
The 22-year-old managed just 12 appearances despite starting Leeds’ first Championship outing – a 3-0 loss to QPR – clocking up a total of 549 minutes. Monk ostracised the midfielder towards the end of the season.
He failed to earn a permanent deal and returned to Swansea, before joining third-tier outfit Northampton Town last summer where he has played a pivotal role in the club’s fight against relegation.
Given regular first-team football at Sixfields, Grimes has finally showed just what he is capable of by being involved in 15 goals in 45 league and cup appearances.
The assist machine has turned provided 11 assists for Northampton, also scoring four goals. The club were relegated before Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Oldham, in which Grimes scored. They finished in 22nd place.
So, considering his form with Northampton, did Leeds give the former Blackburn Rovers loanee a fair crack in showing what he can do?
Though Northampton are a league below Leeds, Grimes has supplied the creative spark in a side that have struggled for goals in the final third. They have scored just 43 goals in 46 league games.
Supplying a quarter of those goals, surely Grimes has shown he has more than enough talent to shine in the Championship. But with the Whites boasting Pablo Hernandez and now Samu Saiz, it is unlikely he would have been given a chance.
But this season’s form has shown that Grimes certainly deserved more than the 12 appearances he was afforded last term.
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