The attacking midfielder has yet to find his feet at Leeds United – though it’s not helped that his manager is yet to use him correctly.
With Leeds United a goal down with just five minutes to go at the Madejski, Garry Monk turned to a player who found the back of the net 26 times last season.
However, Reading’s narrow 1-0 win against The Whites not only extended Kemar Roofe’s goalless run to 15 games, it also only added to the feeling that his manager at Leeds is not yet aware of how to release his potential.
With the clock ticking down, the play-off challengers resorted to that time-honoured reaction to desperation – by launching balls into the box and sacrificing a measured build-up for ‘throwing it into the mixer’.
In reality, 5ft 8ins Roofe was never going to profit from high crosses and long balls. So why Monk turned to him with just a few moments to play is questionable to say the least.
The 2015/16 League Two Player of the Year, whose prolific campaign with Oxford United earned him a move to Elland Road, has arguably spent most of the season being asked to fulfil unfamiliar roles.
Having thrived as a goalscoring number 10 under Michael Appleton this season, the form of Spanish schemer Pablo Hernandez means Roofe has often been forced to start in a wider role this season, whether on the left or the right of the attack.
The fact that Roofe is yet to score or assist a goal when starting in a wide position suggests that the attributes that convinced Leeds to pay £3 million for him in the summer are being misused, as reported by the Yorkshire Post.
With Hernandez’s form stuttering in recent weeks, fans have clamoured for Roofe to be given another chance in his natural position. Though, on the basis of his five-minute cameo against Reading, they shouldn’t hold their breath.
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