Leeds United were at their best on Tuesday evening as they beat Southampton 3-0, and one man who was once again on top form was Tyler Roberts.
The 22-year-old has been inconsistent to say the least at Leeds. He’s been linked with loan moves away from the club as recently as January, but he’s received praise from Marcelo Bielsa on numerous occasions as of late.
However, it really looks as though thinks have been clicking for Roberts in the Premier League in recent weeks, he’s got two assists in his last three games, and he finally looks to be living up to his potential.
He’s not just living up to his potential either, he’s living up to his billing as Samu Saiz’s replacement at Elland Road.
It’s been over two years since Saiz left Leeds, and while the Whites have been promoted and established themselves as a Premier League club since his departure, they’ve not really replaced him.
Pablo Hernandez stepped into his role after he left, but he was already a regular in the starting XI at that point on the right-wing, and while Rodrigo has come in and done a good job this season, he’s not shown the same level of flair, dynamism and creativity as Saiz.
Roberts was billed as Saiz’s replacement pretty much immediately after the Spaniard left Elland Road, but trouble with injuries and inconsistency meant that he could never deliver on that promise, but his recent run in the side has shown that he’s moved up a gear.
Roberts is finally shining in that number 10 role we’ve seen him play sparingly in recent years, and to make things even better, he’s doing it in the Premier League.
Saiz was once seen as the heir to Pablo Hernandez’s throne as Leeds’ greatest creative force, but now it looks as though Roberts may be the one to fill those sizeable boots.
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