Leeds forward Kemar Roofe surely needs repeat of last season’s Aston Villa win

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Kemar Roofe inspired Leeds United to an impressive 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Elland Road.

Kemar Roofe went into Leeds’ clash with Aston Villa in December last season still looking for his first goal for the Whites following his summer move to Elland Road.

There had been bright moments definitely – and some thought he had scored the winner in the narrow victory over Wolves shortly before the Villa game – but the forward undoubtedly needed to start scoring goals.

Luckily, that Villa game saw Roofe finally end his wait for a goal as his clever run into the box allowed him to get onto the end of Souleymane Doukara’s brilliant cross from the left wing to head the ball home to set Leeds on their way to a 2-0 victory that perhaps provided the biggest indication up until that point that the Whites would be in the play-off mix come the end of the campaign.

Almost one year to the day of that game, and Villa are set to come to Elland Road once again on Friday. Unlike last year, Steve Bruce’s men are in the ascendancy in the Championship, while it is not entirely clear what direction Leeds are heading in with a couple of impressive recent wins mixed in with a number of disappointing defeats.

The upturn in form for Leeds started when Roofe led the line in the win over Middlesbrough earlier this month. Though he did not score, he was excellent on the day and there were few complaints when he kept his place against Wolves a few days later.

However, a much more disappointing display at Molineux gave Caleb Ekuban the chance to start against Barnsley, and he took the opportunity as well as Roofe had against Boro, if not better.

Provided Ekuban is fit for Friday, it would be no surprise to see the summer signing keep his place, leaving Roofe probably having to settle for a place on the bench you would imagine.

Should that be the case, Roofe will surely have to try and replicate his performance from last year if he gets a chance as with Pierre-Michel Lasogga also set to come back from a spell on the sidelines at some stage in the future, there is every chance that he may be set for a frustrating spell in and out of the side less than a fortnight after he looked like he had staked a claim to become first-choice for Thomas Christiansen’s team.