What comes next for Sam Greenwood as Leeds United acknowledges a mistake in judgement?
On Saturday night, those at Elland Road had good reason to raise a glass to Sam Greenwood. The Leeds United loanee’s curling free kick proved to be the difference as Middlesbrough once again pulled away from the defending champion Leicester City at the Riverside Stadium.
Leeds is now only eight points behind the Foxes thanks to a goal from Greenwood, and with Daniel Farke’s team starting to gather momentum, Leicester is very much in their sights. It was made even more delightful by the fact that a Leeds player, Greenwood, who is starting to flourish on Teesside, scored the goal.
This was his fourth goal in six games under Michael Carrick, who is clearly reaping the rewards of his faith in the attacking midfielder’s abilities. Furthermore, even though Farke has rarely discussed the former young player for Sunderland and Arsenal in public, it’s obvious that such sentiment may not have existed in West Yorkshire.
If Greenwood had been allowed to go on loan, the German would have tried to keep him in a position behind the striker that Leeds isn’t overly stocked in. However, after his return from injury in August, he was used infrequently until it was decided to allow him to join a rival for a promotion.
Since then, information has surfaced indicating that Middlesbrough can make the agreement permanent at the end of the current campaign for just £1.5 million, which is supposedly what Leeds paid Arsenal for the player back in 2020 when he was still an academy prospect. With his form making that summer 2024 move seem like a no-brainer for Boro, Leeds may already be regretting that choice.
Daniel Farke’s work at Elland Road has been praised by Neil Warnock, the former manager of Leeds United. Leeds is now eight points outside of the top two in the Championship standings after the Whites’ head coach moved the team up to third.
The Whites are closing in on the leaders in the division, Leicester City and Ipswich Town. Despite having the same number of points as the Tractorboys, the Foxes are ahead in goal differential.
Warnock, who oversaw Huddersfield Town, a rival team in West Yorkshire, when the season began, is still of the opinion that the top two teams will advance, but Leeds United won’t be far behind.
The former Terriers manager stated on talkSPORT on Wednesday morning: “I think those two teams might just edge, Leeds.” Nevertheless, Daniel has them fired up right now.
Even though the loss to Stoke City was only three games ago, the disappointment seems like a long time ago. Leeds United has since defeated Plymouth Argyle and Leicester City to reaffirm their Championship promotion push.
The Whites are currently only eight points behind the early leaders, Leicester City and Ipswich Town, having already defeated both teams this season. Daniel Farke’s team is clicking after a difficult start to the season and some doubts about the players’ futures at Elland Road.
Leeds, who have gained 15 points from their previous six games, are the Championship’s best team going into the international break. They have outscored the Foxes and the Tractorboys in the form table during that time, having scored 12 goals and giving up six.
