Leeds United boss Javi Gracia has heaped praise on Marc Roca despite leaving the midfielder on the bench against Southampton.
Gracia named his first Leeds lineup on Saturday afternoon and went with a 4-2-3-1 system.
That saw Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie – international teammates with the United States – feature as the midfield two.
Roca was left on the bench and only came on for the final few minutes, replacing Patrick Bamford.
Some have wondered whether this means Roca will now face a struggle to get regular minutes under Gracia.
The £10million summer signing from Bayern Munich has blown hot and cold this season and the arrival of McKennie was always going to be a problem for him.
Gracia has though offered his fellow Spaniard some words of encouragement.
Javi Gracia thinks Marc Roca and thrive for Leeds United
New Leeds boss Gracia has told Leeds Live that he thinks Roca ‘will be important’ for the Whites moving forward.
Gracia doesn’t think it matters whether Roca is in the starting lineup or coming off the bench, he is still massively valued at Elland Road.
Gracia praised Roca for helping the team when he came on against Southampton and thinks he will do the same when he starts.
“Roca is and will be important in this team,” said Gracia. “Playing from the beginning, playing like the other day. That’s the mentality we need until the end, it’s not so important if I [the players] start playing or not.
“What is really important is what I do when I have to play and the way I can help the team. Marc did it in the last game and when he plays from the beginning, I’m sure he will too,” he added.
Roca may well start against Fulham in the FA Cup tonight with Gracia surely keen to give him a chance.
It will be hard to break the partnership between Adams and McKennie given how well they know each other, but that’s the challenge now facing Roca.
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