Owen Hargreaves has claimed that Wilfried Gnonto ‘looks like a Rugby player’ and he is someone that is ‘so strong’ and has ‘everything’ when out on the pitch donning the Leeds United colours.
Over the weekend, the 19-year-old showcased that brute force, raw talent and attacking threat when he played a huge part in Leeds’ winning goal during their comeback 4-3 win against Bournemouth.
Gnonto, for his age, is built like he’s a 28-year-old forward in his prime and that quality to his game is one many players won’t be looking forward to facing.
He impressed when he came off the bench for his Premier League debut against Liverpool a number of weeks ago and what an introduction that was in Jesse Marsch’s side
Well, the highly-rated Italian forward went one better on Saturday when he drove through the middle of the park, kept his composure and provided a brilliantly weighted pass for Crysencio Summerville to score yet another winning goal.
Former England international Hargreaves likes what he saw from the Leeds youngster and the speed and strength he already has to his game, as he told MatchDay Extra on Premier League Productions (05/11/22 at 8:20 pm).
“As a goal, for an attacking player, it’s a fabulous goal. To think of how much work they have to do, in order to score the goal,” said Hargreaves.
“Gnonto is only 19-years-old, but he’s so explosive and so quick. Once he gets across the defender, it makes up Summerville’s mind. The most important thing is the movement. Most players go out there, but he (Summerville) is so smart and he says ‘I am going to get in inside’.
“The weight of the pass is fantastic – look how quick he is. He’s 19. I mean he has everything. The awareness. He has his head up and he is looking. With these guys, they are so explosive, so you’re not going to stop him.
“To be fair, he looks like a Rugby player, so I am not sure you are going to foul him. He’s so strong.”
On who else he’s been impressed with: “Brenden Aaronson has caught my eye,” said Hargreaves. “He’s a great young player.”
THE TIDE CHANGES FOR MARSCH
The Leeds boss would have been on quite a rollercoaster during these past few weeks because, as Ralph Hasenhüttl is finding out after his sacking from Southampton, that could have easily been him.
After their defeat to Fulham last month, the Elland Road faithful were starting to turn and Marsch was heading towards the World Cup break where his job was on the line.
But it just goes to show how a few wins can change things up because he will now be planning for who to bring in during the January window in order to improve his inconsistent side.
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