Grot shares first thoughts about Elland Road, shares Orta’s message to him

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Leeds United’s Jay-Roy Grot has opened up on his time at Elland Road.

Leeds United-owned forward Jay-Roy Grot has told Voetbal International that he still thinks he has a future at Elland Road after completing a loan move to VVV-Venlo.

The Whites brought in a host of forwards last summer, with Grot snapped up from NEC Nijmegen to join Pierre-Michel Lasogga, Caleb Ekuban and Pawel Cibicki in what proved to be a dismal summer for Leeds.

Grot arrived at Elland Road with potential having featured in the Eredivisie and for the Netherlands at youth level, but he struggled to make an impact in his first season at Elland Road.

The burly forward scored just once in 23 games last season, failing to really convince either Thomas Christiansen or Paul Heckingbottom that he was worthy of a regular starting role for the Whites.

The 20-year-old then seemingly didn’t do enough to convince Marcelo Bielsa that he is ready for the Championship either, and he has now been sent back to the Netherlands, joining VVV-Venlo on a season-long loan dea.

Grot is enjoying a strong pre-season with his new side, and he has now taken the time to look back on his first season in West Yorkshire and what the future may hold for him in a white shirt.

Grot has told Voetbal International that his ‘mouth fell open’ when he saw Elland Road for the first time, admitting that he was proud to play at Leeds’ famous home for the first time.

Grot added that he doesn’t think he lost a year of his career with Leeds, and thinks he still has a future with the club having been told as such by director of football Victor Orta, with a loan to VVV-Venlo the ideal solution as he can play regularly and drive towards his goal of playing in the Premier League.

“My mouth fell open when I saw Elland Road for the first time, wow, what a stadium,” said Grot. “The first time I was allowed to play there, I was so proud.”

“People will say that I have had a lost year, but that is not how I see it. I have experienced and learned a lot. Leeds did not give me a four-year contract for nothing. They saw a future in me and they still see that. The technical director [Victor Orta] has emphasised this again. I think this is a good solution. At VVV I want to show myself, help the team with goals and assists, and from there return more strongly at Leeds. I want to play in the Premier League,” he added.