Leeds United hammered Port Vale 4-1 in the Carabao Cup this evening.
Pundit Noel Whelan has told BBC Radio Leeds that he feels Samu Saiz is more of a goal threat than fellow Leeds playmaker Pablo Hernandez after his stunning display against Port Vale.
Just days after beating Bolton 3-2 in the Championship, Leeds were in Carabao Cup action on Wednesday night as League Two side Port Vale arrived at Elland Road in the hope of causing a major shock.
Samu Saiz, a summer signing from Spanish side Huesca, put Leeds in front after just 12 minutes, but the Whites were pegged back before half time as as ex-Leeds midfielder Michael Tonge equalised on his return to Elland Road.
Saiz then scored on 60 and 62 minutes to complete a dream hat-trick in his first competitive start for Leeds, and fellow summer arrival Caleb Ekuban added a fourth late on before defender Gavin Gunning was sent off for Port Vale.
Leeds coasted into the next round of the competition, and there was no doubting who the star of the show was, as Saiz’s hat-trick stole the headlines in a convincing win for Thomas Christiansen’s men.
The 26-year-old hit 12 goals for Huesca in Spain’s second tier last season, and he continued his goalscoring exploits tonight, sparking praise from pundit Noel Whelan after the final whistle.
Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds after the game, Whelan admitted that he was impressed with everything about Saiz’s game, from his vision and passing to the desire to get in the box and score goals.
Whelan added that Saiz’s eye for goal separates him from fellow Leeds playmaker and Spaniard Pablo Hernandez, meaning Saiz could push for a start against Preston this weekend.
“His bravery, his quality on the ball, his vision, his weight of passing, his clever play; everything that you would want from a No. 10 playing in your team, and he scores goals,” said Whelan. “He gets in the box, he gets in the right areas. Hernandez is fantastic on the ball, but he’s not as brave as Saiz. Saiz wants to score goals, he wants to get in the box, Hernandez wants to work around the 18-yard box. The difference between him and Hernandez is that, the goals that were scored, I can guarantee that when the ball comes in, Hernandez would have been on the edge of the box – Saiz is inside the box, almost in the six yard box,” he added.
What did you think of Saiz’s display against Port Vale?
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