Allan Preston has discussed how a move to Leeds potentially saved Robert Snodgrass’ career.
Robert Snodgrass celebrates during his time at Leeds
Former Livingston boss Allan Preston has told the Daily Mail that signing for Leeds is the best thing that happened to winger Robert Snodgrass.
Snodgrass, 28, has enjoyed a remarkable start to the Premier League season with Hull City, notching two goals in four games so far – including the last-gasp equaliser for the Tigers against Burnley on Saturday.
Robert Snodgrass in action for Leeds United
Factor in that Snodgrass also scored a hat-trick against Malta for Scotland last weekend, and it’s been quite the start to the campaign for the winger.
However, one of his former coaches has been discussing how things could have been so different when Snodgrass was coming up through the ranks with Livingston.
Snodgrass spent eight years on the books with Livingston before earning a 2008 move to Leeds United, where his 41 goals in 193 games earned him a move to Norwich City, and then on to Hull.
Hull City’s Robert Snodgrass celebrates scoring
A fan favourite at Elland Road, Snodgrass’ departure in the summer of 2012 hit Leeds supporters hard, and he’s still fondly remembered in West Yorkshire.
Now, Allan Preston – Snodgrass’ former Livingston boss – has told the Daily Mail that the winger was in danger of dropping out of the game due to off-field matters, with some ‘wrong influences’ hampering his career.
However, Preston believes that Snodgrass’ move to Leeds was the best thing to happen to his career, as he was able to settle down and focus on his football at Elland Road, where he became a star.
Scotland’s Robert Snodgrass applauds fans
“As a kid at 17 he had real natural ability and was a brilliant talent,” said Preston. “But he could have been lost to the game because of the things happening off the field. The best thing that happened to him was going down to Leeds because it got him away from things in his life away from football. He was mixing with the wrong influences and hanging about the wrong people.”
“There was nothing malicious about him, but he was getting into the things that 16 and 17-year-olds do – and the things that players playing in the Premier League can’t do. It was beginning to affect his career. But we’ve all played with players at a young level whose ability was second to none – but who chose the wrong path. He should be an inspiration to other young boys who could go one way or another and choose the right or wrong path,” he added.
What did you think of Snodgrass’ time at Leeds?
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