Roofe has started the 2018-19 campaign in fine form for Leeds.
Kemar Roofe has told Sky Sports that he wanted to emulate Leeds United hero Mark Viduka this season in the Whites’ bid to return to the Premier League for the first time since their relegation in 2004.
Roofe, 25, has got off to a flyer this season for Leeds, scoring four goals in five Championship outings as well as creating two others. His excellent start is keeping Patrick Bamford out of the side.
Leeds currently sit at the top of the Championship table under new manager Marcelo Bielsa, who has adopted a high press, high tempo style of play that sees Roofe spearhead the Leeds attack by himself.
The former Oxford United and West Brom star said that he remembers Australian striker Viduka and is desperate to mirror the striker’s exceptional goalscoring rate for Leeds this season.
“Everywhere you go you see a Leeds fan and you know what promotion would mean for the area and the club,” Roofe said. “I think that’s why everyone who comes here loves it.
“I do remember bits but when I was younger I was more bothered about playing, or if I was watching it was just about the skills or goals. One player I remember though is Mark Viduka and his goalscoring ability. Hopefully I can replicate that this season.”
Now retired, Viduka joined Leeds from Celtic in 2000 and scored a huge 68 goals in 158 games before joining Middlesbrough after the Whites’ financial collapse in 2004.
Roofe is expected to remain in the side ahead of Bamford on Friday night, as Leeds play host to Viduka’s former side Middlesbrough who sit on the same amount of points as Leeds at the top of the Championship.
A win for Leeds will see them sit at the top of the table as undisputed leaders, ahead of the Championship’s leading pack and maintain Bielsa’s unbeaten start in the league – which currently stands at five wins and a draw.
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