Keown tells Leeds duo ‘simplify their play’ or clubs will ‘starve’ Gracia’s side

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Martin Keown urges Wilfried Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville to ‘simplify their play’ for Leeds United to improve. Otherwise, he feels teams can ‘starve’ Patrick Bamford of service.

The Whites play their first match under Javi Gracia on Saturday after finally finding an heir to Jesse Marsch. Elland Road chiefs secured a successor for the American on Tuesday with the Spaniard taking over on a flexible contract. It was 15 days after they had fired Marsch.

Gracia only has one job whilst at the helm in West Yorkshire: keeping Leeds in the Premier League. The Whites enter the weekend 19th in the table and just a point off the bottom as they host basement boys Southampton. A win could take either side out of the drop zone.

Gnonto and Summerville have enjoyed breakthrough seasons at Leeds this term

Despite Leeds’ problems, Gnonto and Summerville have emerged as important players this season. Marsch signed Gnonto from FC Zurich last September for £4m and the 19-year-old has started in 10 of his 12 league matches. While Summerville has opened seven of his 16.

Gnonto has also provided two goals and one assist, while Summerville has hit four and laid on one assist. The former’s efforts have also contributed to a 4-3 win over Bournemouth, a 2-2 draw with West Ham and a 2-2 draw at Manchester United since his debut in October.

Summerville played a sporadic role in Marsch’s plans up to a breakout run of games during October. He scored in successive matches in a 3-2 loss to Fulham, 2-1 win at Liverpool, the 4-3 win over Bournemouth and a 4-3 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur prior to the World Cup.

Keown feels teams will nullify Leeds if Gracia is over-reliant on the wingers

But Keown feels sides will nullify Leeds if Gracia is over-reliant on Gnonto and Summerville after taking charge. As much as the Arsenal icon admires the forwards, he claims Leeds can struggle to get Bamford adequate service if Gnonto and Summerville are not at their best.

“Wingers Wilfried Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville both have a box of tricks with plenty of pace,” Keown wrote in a column for the Daily Mail. “But if you mark them tight, you can starve Leeds of any supply line to Patrick Bamford.

“Both Gnonto and Summerville need to simplify their play and get the ball into the box for Bamford quicker, or link up with the striker and go for goal.”