Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto impressed Jermaine Beckford with his ‘positive’ start against Southampton. The Whites hero admired the Italian’s instant impact this Saturday.
The Elland Road natives hosted the Saints in Javi Gracia’s first match in charge of the West Yorkshire outfit. Leeds appointed the Spaniard as Jesse Marsch’s replacement on a flexible contract on Tuesday. He arrived with the Whites down in 19th in the Premier League table.
Marsch lasted just one year at the helm having arrived to replace Marcelo Bielsa only last February. But Gracia will now benefit from the American’s £4m move to sign Gnonto from FC Zurich in September. The 19-year-old penned a five-year contract to go to Elland Road.
Gnonto has been an instrumental player for Leeds since breaking into Marsch’s plans back in October. The eight-cap Italy international has now played in 13 of the Elland Road side’s Premier League games. He has featured in 16 games across all competitions, starting in 13.
The Verbania native also went into the weekend with two goals plus one assist through his 12 prior Premier League outings. Gnonto penned his assist against AFC Bournemouth back on November 5 in his second appearance. He created the goal which beat the Cherries 4-3.
Gnonto impressed Beckford straight away as Leeds hosted Southampton
Gnonto has continually established an increasingly important presence at Leeds over their games ahead of hosting Southampton. He had played the full 90 minutes in eight of their prior nine top-flight fixtures. He also scored against West Ham and at Manchester United.
While Gnonto did not influence a goal over Leeds’ early exchanges with Southampton, the winger impressed Beckford. The Whites hero admired how the Italian sought to probe the Saints’ backline from the off. His efforts also helped Gracia’s squad establish control early.
“Leeds look really good,” Beckford told the BBC’s Final Score. “Gnonto has been fantastic, so positive. It is very Leeds dominated but Southampton look organised.”
Gnonto probed the Southampton backline after just nine minutes as Leeds sought to give Gracia the perfect start. But the Saints managed to block his strike to keep the game level.
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