Leeds United forward Souleymane Doukara could be surprisingly effective if given the chance against Newcastle United.
Ask a group of Leeds United fans for their opinion on Souleymane Doukara and you’re unlikely to hear the same point twice. Few players in Garry Monk’s squad are as divisive as the Senegalese forward.
And, recently, Monk himself seems a little unconvinced. Doukara has not started a Championship game since an ineffective performance in the 1-1 draw with Fulham in early March.
Yes, the 25-year-old was asked to replace the irreplaceable Chris Wood in attack after spending most of the season out wide but even that does not excuse a display bordering on the anonymous. Thus, each of Doukara’s last five appearances have arrived in the form of second-half cameos, although he did put the icing on the cake by netting a composed third in Leeds’ hammering of Preston last time out.
Though, with Leeds travelling to Newcastle United on Friday night, you wonder whether this would be the ideal time for Monk to bring an end to Doukara’s exile from the starting XI.
Rafael Benitez’s second placed side, though far from unbeatable on home turf, are likely to dominate possession against Monk’s reactive Leeds. And, if they are to open up the visitor’s stern rearguard, a lot will depend on the influence of right-winger Matt Ritchie.
With two goals in his last three games and eleven for the season, the 27-year-old is arguably Newcastle’s main goal threat with Dwight Gayle suffering a hamstring injury in last week’s loss at Sheffield Wednesday.
Therefore, Doukara could be essential from a defensive, rather than an offensive, standpoint. He may not be the most threatening attacker but Monk clearly admires his work rate and his willingness to track back from his nominal position on the left could be crucial to quelling Ritchie or, indeed, the overlaps of right-back DeAndre Yedlin.
This is exactly the sort of game where Monk earns his stripes and, by picking Doukara, he could lay the foundations for another momentum building win.
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