Eddie Nketiah has scored every 73 minutes in the Championship but the Arsenal loanee still hasn’t started for Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United.
Ian Holloway has labelled Eddie Nketiah a ‘brilliant’ talent – but, speaking to The Mirror, he has backed Marcelo Bielsa’s decision to keep the Leeds United striker on the bench for the time being.
Nketiah is yet to start a single Championship game since Leeds fought off competition from a whole host of clubs to bring the Arsenal wonderkid to Elland Road on a season-long loan.
But the 20-year-old is carving out a niche for himself as an impact substitute, coming off the bench to loop in a brilliant header against Preston North End on Tuesday as Leeds grabbed a late point at Deepdale.
With Patrick Bamford now going eight games without finding the net, there is a growing clamour for Bielsa to introduce Nketiah into the starting XI – especially with Leeds struggling to kill teams off and wasting a load of chances almost every game.
But Holloway has backed a legendary Argentine despite Nketiah’s record of a goal every 73 minutes in the Championship.
“Marcelo Bielsa is doing the right thing by keeping Eddie Nketiah on the bench – and bringing him on to score goals,” said the former Millwall and QPR coach.
“He’s not starting because he is inexperienced – but he is brilliant at what he does in the moment. In 90 minutes he might not give you what he is giving you as an impact off the bench. That’s clever management.
“Some young players who start regularly lose their efficiency. They think they are ready for the 90 minutes but they aren’t quite.
“At the minute – I wouldn’t change a successful situation. Nketiah is still a very, very young man and every time he comes on, he scores. So why change anything?”
Bielsa is a big fan of Bamford, despite his lack of goals, with the £7 million striker possessing the ability to lead the line effectively and provide a physical presence in attack – something that is probably beyond a gangly poacher like Nketiah.
Bamford arguably fits Leeds’ system better but, as long as he keeps spurning chances, the criticism will not stop any time soon.
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