Harrison is currently on loan at Leeds from Manchester City.
Losing at home to promotion rivals Norwich City, Leeds United desperately needed inspiration. Something out of nothing, with the score at 2-0 to the Canaries midway through the second half.
The ball was sprayed out to 22-year-old winger Jack Harrison, who has been indifferent since joining the Whites on loan from Manchester City last summer. Glimpses of quality, lacking in confidence.
He summed up his Leeds career in a matter of touches. An excellent first touch, but as he tried to take on Norwich defender Joe Lewis, the ball got caught under his feet and he – rather easily – gave up possession.
That has been Harrison’s loan spell in a nutshell so far. Glimpses of quality, certainly good enough for the Premier League – but the majority of the time he has been average.
Marcelo Bielsa worked tirelessly to sign Harrison from Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the summer. Harrison was with the Premier League champions on their tour of the US, but Bielsa’s persuasion allowed Harrison to move to Elland Road.
Just two goals in 23 league and cup appearances later, and the England Under-21 international is struggling. Lacking in confidence, bereft of ideas, Harrison is being used as Jack Clarke continues to learn his trade.
With his loan spell expiring at the end of the season, the chances of Harrison completing a permanent move to Leeds is unlikely – especially when he is reportedly earning £51,000 a week at Manchester City (Spotrac).
Now, Leeds have even been linked with a shock reunion with Burnley star Aaron Lennon (The Sun) – 14 years after the speed machine left Elland Road to move to Tottenham Hotspur.
So, Harrison has hardly done enough to earn a permanent deal – as of yet. But if he cannot step his form up a notch, Lennon will surely prove the more attractive prospect – especially with Harrison earning more than £2.5million a year.
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