Gerrard on Leeds’ injuries
Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard has claimed it would be unfair to judge Leeds United too harshly this season due to the volume of injuries they have suffered with.
The Whites are set to go head-to-head with Villa for the first time this season tomorrow night, but Marcelo Bielsa will be once again without the likes of Kalvin Phillips and Patrick Bamford.
Gerrard believes that Leeds have a squad packed with ‘talented players’ but thinks injuries are a major reason why they haven’t hit the heights of last season.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, he said: “My opinion on Leeds is, as a team and as a squad, they’ve got really talented players, really dangerous players.
“They haven’t had the best of luck in terms of injuries, so it’s not fair to judge them too strongly.
“I’ve only focused on Leeds over the last few weeks, as I was in Scotland up until November, but from the outside, I’ve always enjoyed watching Leeds. I think they’re a very exciting team.
“They’re getting players returning from injury, and I’m sure once they get Kalvin Phillips, Patrick Bamford back, it wouldn’t surprise me if they find a higher level of consistency.”
Summerville hailed
Leeds United Under-23s manager Mark Jackson has hailed the performance of Crysencio Summerville in their 3-0 win over Liverpool on Monday night.
Summerville played a starring role as he involved in all three of the Young Whites’ goals. First, his shot rebounded into Jack Jenkins' path for the Leeds academy midfielder to prod home during the first half, then in the final ten minutes the Dutchman was felled twice inside the penalty area, before dispatching of one of the spot-kicks himself.
The 20-year-old may have felt he had a point to prove after Marcelo Bielsa had revealed earlier in the day that he had asked to leave the club in the January transfer window.
But Summerville showed no signs of his head being elsewhere as he produced a superb individual display, that Jackson was full of praise for.
He said: "It’s that individuality with the ball. He’s got pace, he’s got trickery, he’s got great balance with the ball and he can create something from nothing.
"That’s what he brings to the team, but like I said I think he also brought a desire to work out of possession as well and work for the team as well which is really important for how we play.
"He played his part in an excellent victory tonight."
McGurk and Cresswell gestures
Leeds United have become a club renowned for the work they do to help the community in recent years.
And under-23s duo Sean McGurk and Charlie Cresswell demonstrated that once again last night following the Young Whites’ win over Liverpool.
Outside the ground after the match, McGurk walked to his car with a young fan and handed him an Adidas shoe box which presumably contained his boots from the match.
Cresswell, meanwhile, sent a personal video to another young supporter claiming he would send him one of his personal shirts after he was unable to secure his signature after the game.
Read more here on the pair’s gestures.
