Leeds United are absolutely flying in the Premier League so far this season, and Rodrigo Moreno has played a massive part in the Whites’ good form.
The former Valencia man has really stepped up this season.
The Spaniard is the Premier League’s top-scorer, netting four goals in three games this term, and this rise has been somewhat unexpected.
Indeed, after the arrivals of Brenden Aaronson and Luis Sinisterra, many believed that Rodrigo may have slipped down the pecking order at Elland Road, but he has kicked on massively since the start of this season.
Where has this rise come from? Well, there may be a simple explanation as to why he’s improved so much.
The 31-year-old may have stepped up his levels due to the fact he’s now actively fighting for his World Cup life.
Before signing for Leeds, Rodrigo was Spain’s bona fide first-choice number nine. He played 19 games for the national team in the two years prior to his move to Leeds, but poor Premier League form has seen him fall out of favour in Luis Enrique’s team.
The striker has played just five games for Spain in the last two years, and he didn’t receive a call-up for Euro 2020 after his poor first season for Leeds.
Rodrigo won’t be under any illusions, he knows he has to step up if he wants to go to Qatar, and at the age of 31, this may well be his last chance to play on the world’s biggest stage.
The attacker is in the last chance saloon when it comes to achieving his World Cup dream. He has to impress Luis Enrique over the next two months, and you can bet your bottom dollar he’s going to work his socks off to make sure he’s in that squad come November.
The Leeds United man has improved so much in the opening weeks of this season, and while some may be wondering where this new lease of life has come from, in our view, there is a simple explanation – Rodrigo is battling to get to the World Cup.
Fingers crossed the Spaniard’s efforts to earn an international call-up bear fruit this winter.
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