Pundit expresses worry at Leeds pair’s inability to effect games.
Leeds United players celebrate after the match
Former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan has cast his verdict on duo Pablo Hernandez and Kemar Roofe, who have both flattered to deceive since arriving at the club.
Both players were dropped at the weekend as Leeds recorded their first league win of the season, but were handed starts away at Luton in the EFL Cup.
Leeds United’s Kemar Roofe and Fulham’s Denis Odoi in action
Roofe came off the bench against the Owls to provide an assist, and was unlucky not to score against Luton when an acrobatic effort rebounded off the crossbar.
Whelan is sure that Roofe is not a striker, commenting on Twitter that he feels the £3 million signing from Oxford United will find it tough stepping up two divisions, based on what he has seen so far.
Roofe at least has shown flashes of what he is all about, and could be handed a role on the wing this weekend if head coach Garry Monk wants to rest Stuart Dallas.
The goals scored by Marcus Antonsson and Chris Wood will likely mean they retain their places in the side if Leeds go again with two up front.
Where loanee Pablo Hernandez fits in is less certain. He featured on the wing against Luton, and Whelan noted that he looked uncomfortable in the role.
Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds after the game, he said: “I really want him to do well, I know he’s got quality but it doesn’t seem to be clicking for him right now.
“I think he needs to be central in the number 10 role. He finds it difficult when he is isolated on one side. He likes to roam, he likes to be busy and he seems stranded out here, when he does get ball, he doesn’t really know what to do with it.
“It seems to be a 4-4-2 formation Monk is preferring. Where do you fit him into the side?”
Leeds United’s Pablo Hernandez scores the winning penalty in the shootout
The answer last weekend was simply that he does not fit into the team, but this was because Alex Mowatt was preferred in a central role.
The Spaniard may be confident of overcoming Mowatt to claim this spot, yet whether he did enough to convince in the week that he deserves to do so this weekend remains to be seen.
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