Leeds United striker was with the under-23s this week.
Leeds United striker Tyler Roberts was back with the under-23s yesterday.
It was not exactly a ‘demotion’, instead an opportunity to get some game time.
Even so, it underlined Roberts’ fragile status as a first team option with his minutes limited since Kemar Roofe returned from injury.
Roberts has been an unused substitute in each of Leeds’ last three matches.
He filled in during Roofe’s injury, scoring three times.
Roberts now faces a critical two months with Patrick Bamford looming as a further threat to his opportunity.
The £7 million summer signing has been injured the last two months and is not expected to return until January.
When he does, Bamford will give Leeds another exciting option up front, but it will be Roberts who as it stands, would suffer.
As it is, he has not featured at all in Leeds’ last three games, and that’s without Bamford as competition.
Roberts has proved his usefulness already this season, but he needs to step it up and make himself indispensible between now and January, when it will become even harder for him to get game time.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
