Marcus Antonsson’s loan spell has been underwhelming lately, but he still needs another chance at Leeds United.
When Marcus Antonsson scored eight goals before the end of November last year, it appeared that Leeds may have made a potential mistake letting the Swede leave to join Blackburn Rovers on loan, especially as it was around that time that the wheels were well and truly coming off for the Whites after their stunning start to the season.
Antonsson endured a very tough first year at Elland Road following his £2 million move – fee reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post – scoring just once in the league largely due to a quick change in formation that saw Chris Wood lead the line on his own to devastating effect.
Garry Monk’s departure may have given Antonsson fresh hope that he could finally show the kind of form that tempted Leeds to sign him in 2016. But before a competitive ball had been kicked this season, the striker headed to Ewood Park, with last year’s obstacle, Wood not far behind in following him out the door.
His initial form with Rovers would have given Leeds encouragement that there was a very decent player in there – he is clearly a talented forward with the kind of clever movement that the Whites have been crying out for at times – and may have given his biggest supporters hope that he would have a future at Elland Road.
But while Blackburn’s form has taken a significant turn for the better since November, Antonsson’s has not, and the 26-year-old is yet to score since the win over Blackpool.
He has returned to being Leeds’ forgotten man in many ways, and the fans would be forgiven for writing him off upon his return to his parent club at the end of the season. But based on what Paul Heckingbottom is currently working with, it is difficult to see how Antonsson cannot get another chance to make the grade.
For the first time since 2013/14 when Ross McCormack and Matt Smith formed a brilliant partnership, Leeds are actually going to finish the campaign with two players in double figures for league goals with Kemar Roofe and Pierre-Michel Lasogga on 10 each for the season.
Nevertheless, no-one would blame Heckingbottom if he asked for a complete overhaul of the striker department in the summer. Lasogga’s loan spell is set to conclude, while Caleb Ekuban and Jay-Roy Grot desperately need to be taken out of the firing line, whether that be a loan exit, demotion to the under-23s or even, a permanent departure if an impressive offer comes in.
Even Roofe – who should be the forward who emerges from this campaign with the most credit – seems to be just as capable of having an absolute stinker, where it is easily forgotten that he is on the pitch, as he is to put in the kind of performance that makes him the first name on the teamsheet for the following week.
It has got to the stage where academy prospects Ryan Edmondson and Sam Dalby are being backed for a first-team chance on a weekly basis. Both are huge talents, but neither began the season on Leeds’ books and would have probably got nowhere near the same attention had they been making the same impact this time last year.
Leeds’ long contract strategy has potentially backed the Whites into a corner that may leave them without the finances to push Grot or Ekuban significantly down the pecking order ahead of next season. And with that in mind, Leeds are in the sad situation where Antonsson’s form before November should be enough on its own for the striker to get another chance in pre-season.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
