QPR clash pits Leeds against underrated player they should never have sold

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Leeds United host Queens Park Rangers at Elland Road this weekend, presenting one Hoops player with the chance to return to familiar surroundings.

Leeds United manager Garry Monk

Leeds’ game against QPR this weekend will not only see Garry Monk’s men look to take another step towards a play-off position in the Championship, but it will also see one Hoops ace return to familiar surroundings.

Matt Smith moved to Loftus Road from Fulham in January, and has made a bright start since the move, having scored twice in six games for Ian Holloway’s men.

And should he feature against his former club on Saturday, it may act as a reminder of how poor a decision it seemed on Leeds’ behalf to let him move to Craven Cottage in 2014.

Smith was perhaps not a marquee acquisition when he arrived at Elland Road in 2013, but he undoubtedly proved to be an extremely useful squad member during his time with the Whites.

QPR’s Matt Smith in action with Wigan’s Stephen Warnock

His record of 12 goals in 42 Championship games for Leeds may not grab any headlines, but is much more impressive as he started just half of those games, and his partnership with Ross McCormack threatened to be something special for Leeds before they were both allowed to leave for the same club during the same window.

While McCormack’s departure seemed a good piece of business, Smith’s exit was met with a fair amount of confusion amongst the Elland Road faithful who, arguably rightfully, felt he offered the team something different and thus, could have been a difference maker.

Matt Smith

And while Chris Wood’s form this term means that Smith would probably be closer to the periphery of the current squad than he would be in any of the other squads there have been since he left, the similarities between the two men arguably suggest that he could have been the perfect understudy for the New Zealander.

And if he goes on to make an impact upon his return to Elland Road this weekend, the disappointment fans felt when they initially heard that he had been sold nearly three years ago may well be reignited.