Noel Whelan suggests Kemar Roofe will have to adapt his game in the Championship

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Noel Whelan thinks Kemar Roofe will have to adapt his game a little in the Championship.

Leeds’ Kemar Roofe and Blackburn’s Jason Lowe in action

Pundit and former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan has told BBC Radio Leeds that he thinks forward Kemar Roofe will have to adapt his game in the Championship.

Leeds were frustrated on Tuesday night as they drew 1-1 at home with Wigan Athletic, with Shaun MacDonald’s injury time equaliser cancelling out Chris Wood’s opener.

Garry Monk’s men will be disappointed to have dropped two points in the dying embers of the game, and the Leeds boss may consider come changes to his line-up for this weekend’s clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Leeds United’s Kemar Roofe in action against Blackburn Rovers’ Jason Lowe (L)

One player who was brought in for the Wigan game was Kemar Roofe, who came in to add more pace out wide in the absence of Stuart Dallas after Alex Mowatt struggled on the left of midfield against Derby County last weekend.

Roofe, 23, joined Leeds from Oxford United over the summer, with the Whites splashing out a reported £3m (BBC Sport) to snap up the former West Bromwich Albion youngster.

After scoring 26 goals in all competitions last season, fans were understandably excited about Roofe arriving at Elland Road, but so far it’s been a slow start to life in West Yorkshire for the attacker.

Leeds United’s Kemar Roofe and Fulham’s Denis Odoi in action

Roofe has started just three Championship games this season, making nine substitute appearances, and notching just one assist whilst failing to notch a goal.

Roofe still has great potential and is a quality attacker already, and showed some glimpses of his ability against Wigan on Tuesday night – but ex-Leeds striker Noel Whelan still thinks he has some improving to do.

Whelan told BBC Radio Leeds that he thinks Roofe will have to adapt to the Championship a little more, in terms of knowing when to manage the game and knowing when to pull of tricks.

QPR’s Nedum Onuoha in action with Leeds United’s Kemar Roofe

Whelan added that he thinks Roofe has shown hard work off the ball, but will need to be reminded about his concentration, as the pundit believes Roofe has a tendency to switch off at times.

“He’s going to have to adapt his game a little bit,” said Whelan. “He’s going to have to realise how to manage it and play at a Championship level, and use your pace when you need to, use your tricks when you have to, in the right areas.”

“The hard work side, without the ball, he showed he can do that and he got himself into good areas. I think he’s one of those players who can switch off every now and again with his concentration levels, so he’s the kind of player you need to keep at,” he added.

What did you think of Roofe’s display against Wigan?