Former Leeds United goalkeeper Paul Robinson has admitted that he wants to see Tyler Roberts start in the Whites’ next Championship game against Huddersfield Town.
This comes after the 21-year-old impressed in a cameo appearance against Hull City at the weekend, in which he scored two goals despite only being on the pitch for 23 minutes (Transfermarkt).
Roberts’ appearance at Hull was only his 13th of the season (Transfermarkt) having missed a large portion of the campaign after picking up a leg muscle injury against Reading back in November (LeedsLive).
But it seems that he has certainly impressed Robinson, who now believes that the Welsh international deserves to be in Marcelo Bielsa’s starting 11 against the Terriers on Saturday, perhaps at the expense of Patrick Bamford.
Speaking about the former West Brom man, the ex-Spurs shot stopper told MOT Leeds News: “Tyler Roberts was brilliant against Hull, he looked really sharp. For me, he’s got to start the next game.
“Leeds are dominating games and not finishing chances. We all know what Bamford brings to the team but his conversion rate isn’t good enough. Tyler Roberts came on and proved he could put in the same work shift for the team and also scored the goals. You saw how clinical he was. He took the ball off Stuart Dallas’ foot and that showed he’s hungry and wants to score goals. And that’s the type of player Leeds need.
“Leeds have got Jean-Kevin Augustin but he’s broken down under the Bielsa regime, trying to get fit. That means that Tyler Roberts could have found his opportunity to get into that team.
“It’s no surprise how Bielsa plays and whether that’s three at the back or four at the back, he plays a single striker and for me, that’s got to be Tyler Roberts in the next game.”
Robinson definitely has a point here and there is certainly an argument for Roberts to replace Bamford in the starting line-up for their next game.
Whilst Bamford has been Bielsa’s go-to centre-forward, he simply does not score enough goals. Indeed he has failed to find the back of the net in any of his last seven Championship appearances (Transfermarkt) and as of 1st February, he had missed more big chances than any player in the division with 20 to his name (@Champstat).
Roberts showed a ruthlessness in front of goal against the Tigers which Bamford hasn’t of late, which could see the Welshman get the nod at the weekend ahead of the ex-Middlesbrough man.
Leeds fans, would you start Tyler Roberts against Huddersfield? Let us know your thoughts below…
