Kemar Roofe’s display in Leeds win would surely make bringing Pierre-Michel Lasogga back against Wolves a risk

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Kemar Roofe was excellent in Leeds United’s win over Middlesbrough at the weekend so should keep his place against the Championship leaders.

Given that Thomas Christiansen had stuck by Pierre-Michel Lasogga while he was getting criticised during Leeds’ poor run before the international break, it would not have been a major surprise if the German had started the Championship clash with Middlesbrough on Sunday had he been fit.

Lasogga has scored five goals in 10 Championship games since his arrival on loan, so it would have been a gamble to leave him out against Garry Monk’s men – even if a number of his performances have been slated by the fans.

Now however, it would arguably be as big a gamble for Christiansen to recall Lasogga for the trip to Wolves on Wednesday if he is fit following Kemar Roofe’s performance against Boro.

Roofe has endured a mixed time with Leeds, struggling to hold down a regular spot in the side in one position. So when Lasogga was ruled out for Sunday’s game, he would have undoubtedly known that the Middlesbrough fixture would have been a massive chance to prove himself.

The former Oxford United man did not get on the scoresheet at Elland Road, but his performance arguably saw him tick many of the boxes that Lasogga seems to leave unchecked more often than not.

He showed a constant willingness to put pressure on the Middlesbrough defenders when they had the ball, and used that energy to help create the gaps that allowed Pablo Hernandez and Gjanni Alioski to score the goals that saw Leeds pick up a massive three points.

And it must not be forgotten that it was Roofe’s brilliant piece of skill that led to Alioski’s goal as he held the ball up and managed to create an opening for Hernandez to drill the ball across the box for the winger to score from close range.

It would be dramatic to suggest that Lasogga has fallen right down the pecking order – though some may argue that Caleb Ekuban also put some pressure on with his bright cameo in the latter stages – but Roofe’s performance surely means that it makes more sense for Leeds to start with the 24-year-old leading the line against the Championship table-toppers on Wednesday, even if Lasogga is fully fit for the clash.