Leeds United star has been transformed and his form shows why cup games are no true barometer of a player’s ability.
Leeds United’s fringe players struggled against Preston in midweek and did themselves few favours.
The likes of Tyler Roberts, Patrick Bamford, Jack Harrison, Lewis Baker and Tom Pearce all would have hoped to make the sort of impact which would propel them into Leeds’ starting XI.
None of them managed it, and while they could not take a positive from the game – it is wrong to mark it down as a negative against them.
Look no further than Mateusz Klich to find reason that cup games are no true measuring stick to judge a player.
This is because a nearly entirely new team comes in, without chemistry, no form, or even match fitness or sharpness.
To suddenly expect a result and strong performances is just being hopeful, rather than having logic behind it.
Klich was a player who struggled in cup games last season, particularly the woeful FA Cup defeat to Newport County.
Days later the Pole was sent on loan to FC Utrecht, and it looked like his career at the club could come to a premature end.
Fortunately new Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa has taken a different view, and with the manager’s belief and a full pre-season behind him, Klich has become one of the club’s best players.
It makes you wonder how many other Mateusz Klich’s are among Leeds’ fringe players. Would Lewis Baker develop into a key player with regular minutes?
Do Leeds loanees like Pawel Cibicki and Yosuke Ideguchi have more to offer among their returns?
Casting judgement over players from one or two cup games, or pre-season games is easy to do, but if Leeds are patient, they may find they have a few more gems under their noses.
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