This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Much like Brexit, this story seems like it’s never going to end.
Eddie Nketiah and his lack of minutes has been talked about ad infinitum and will probably stay that way until he either becomes a regular starter, or gets recalled by Arsenal.
However, with all the talk for what it means to Leeds, it’s his parent club that should be concerned according to one former Premier League man.
What’s he said?
Speaking to Talksport, Darren Bent spoke about how Nketiah’s future could be at risk if he doesn’t start getting some minutes under his belt.
He said:
“At the minute, he’s got an impossible task trying to move Aubameyang and Lacazette. That’s virtually impossible. But he’s never going to get the opportunity to do that if he’s not playing games. Maybe in January he has to look at going somewhere else.
“He just needs to be playing games. We’ve seen it over the years. Look at Saido Berahino, look at his England Under-21 record. It’s as good as anyone’s, but he couldn’t nail it down in the league.”
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Is this really Leeds’ concern though?
The question that comes out of Bent’s comments, is it really Leeds’ responsibility to worry about his career at Arsenal or whatever club he finds himself at in the future?
Unless they have an idea to bring him in on a permanent basis next season, surely their only worry is what he can offer Leeds this season.
Almost like a rental car – if you mess up the clutch or gearbox so that it can’t be used by the next customer, so long as you have got what you wanted out of it, it’s not really your problem once you’ve sent it back. Not that you should necessarily do that just for the fun of it, but the point stands.
But if this season-long loan is going to be just that, and once the summer rolls around Nketiah is never seen at Elland Road again, apart from perhaps as an opponent, then do Leeds really have a responsibility to give him the minutes to help his future career?
The concern, however, is that the fact he isn’t starting is not benefitting his loan side. Bamford hasn’t scored in six matches and since then, Nketiah has netted eight times for club and country.
They don’t just need to start playing him for his own benefit, but also for Leeds’. If not, as Bent says, he could end up going somewhere else in January.
He’s already been linked with Bristol City so Marcelo Bielsa and co have to be careful.
