The Leeds United play-maker had to make do with a place on the bench against Cardiff City.
Of all Leeds United’s summer signings, Samu Saiz has been one of the very best based on his early performances, so it was somewhat surprising to see him named on the bench when the Whites faced Cardiff City on Tuesday evening.
The clash was Leeds’ biggest of the season so far, with the winners moving clear at the top of the table, and Cardiff benefited from that as they ran out 3-1 winners on the night.
While Pablo Hernandez’s quality is undeniable, his influence away from Elland Road has prompted much debate since his arrival last year, and when you consider how Saiz has grown into his role under Thomas Christiansen and excelled as a secondary striker, he was just what Leeds needed to unlock a resilient Cardiff defence.
With former Leeds defender Sol Bamba shielding the hosts’ back-line, it was always going to take something special to break through, and Saiz possesses that certain something in abundance.
Perhaps it was always Leeds boss Thomas Christiansen’s intention to bring on Saiz with 20 minutes remaining in a bid to win it late on. But that plan went out the window when Cardiff took a two-goal lead and Liam Cooper saw red.
Saiz is key to Leeds’ energetic, effective play and he should have started his eighth straight match this week rather than starting with a watching brief.
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