Tyler Roberts is enjoying a decent first full season with Leeds United so far.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has told Sky Sports that he believes Leeds United’s Tyler Roberts is defying peoples’ expectations of him this season, but admits the young forward will have his off days from time to time.
Injuries to Kemar Roofe and Patrick Bamford have seen the Wales international become Leeds’ first-choice striker in recent weeks.
And Roberts, a £4 million signing [Daily Mail] from West Bromwich Albion in January, has impressed it must be said, netting three goals in six Championship starts – including the winner against Hull last week.
But the 19-year-old drew a blank in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Brentford, and former Whites hitman Hasselbaink says that the youngster needs time.
“He’s a good player with technical ability,” Hasselbaink told Sky Sports. “He knows how to play in combinations and leads the line really well.
“But you need to give him time. He will have games where you won’t see and him and he will have games where he will be exceptional.
“But that’s a young player and you need to give him time to grow. He’s definitely somebody who’s doing a lot better than people thought that he would.”
For a 19-year-old in his first full season as a Championship striker, Roberts is doing brilliantly.
He isn’t the ideal forward yet, and it remains to be seen what Marcelo Bielsa plans when Roofe comes back, but he’s doing an excellent job under so much pressure and the future certainly seems very, very bright for him.
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