Caleb Ekuban has struggled to impress at Leeds this season.
Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips has told the Yorkshire Evening Post that he has seen enough of Caleb Ekuban in training to know that the under-fire striker will eventually come good.
The 24-year-old finally opened his Championship account for Leeds last weekend, but could have had a hat-trick as Leeds narrowly beat Bolton Wanderers in a result that should have been far more flattering.
The summer signing from Chievo failed to find his shooting boots against Fulham on Tuesday night, missing a golden chance before Fulham capitalised to win 2-0 at Craven Cottage.
Ekuban has come under huge criticism from fans for his inability to put the ball in the back of the net, but Phillips has urged fans to be patient with the Ghanaian-born striker as he has shown he is more than capable of doing so in training.
“Obviously it’s deflating for us but with Caleb, nine times out of 10 in training he sticks that in the bottom corner,” Phillips said. “I just think it’s luck.
“If he screws his head on and is more confident, which he should be because he’s a great player, then I think he’ll be a very good goalscorer. That’s what we need with all the strikers.”
Leeds’ disappointing loss to Fulham leaves them with next to no chance of finishing in the Championship’s top six this season, as they sit 10 points off the play-offs with only six games left to play.
Kemar Roofe is set to finally return from injury and his presence could see Ekuban’s place in the starting line-up come under threat, while Paul Heckingbottom may have lost patience with the striker and that could see Pierre-Michel Lasogga start.
The Whites face Sunderland on Saturday at Elland Road with Leeds’ expectant fanbase wanting nothing else than three points against a side that are all but relegated.
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