In a recent interview with Football Insider, former England defender Danny Mills heaped praise on Leeds United wide player Ezgjan Alioski after his impressive season in the Premier League so far. Mills said,
“It’s not just his impact on the pitch, I think he’s a very, very good squad player.
“He’s clearly bubbly and good to have around. You need players like that, you need players who are going to be energetic, even when they’re not in the team.
“It’s very, very important that they are there working with the team, working hard in training and helping to create a good atmosphere.
“The opposite of that would be players that are disgruntled, annoyed or upset and not necessarily giving everything in training and causing issues around the place. That’s not Allioski.
“He seems like a great character and he can play numerous positions as well which is absolutely vital.
“Leeds are in the Premier League and fans will be back in soon, where else would you want to be plying your trade next season?”
Alioski’s Impressive Form In The Premier League This Season
The Prilep-born talent has continued to work hard towards improving his game on the left flank. He has featured in ten matches for the Whites this term, registering one goal and one yellow card while receiving 593 minutes of game time across all competitions.
Alioski has been a positive influence at both ends of the field as he is averaging 2.1 tackles, 0.7 interceptions, 0.6 clearances, 0.8 shots and 0.8 key passes per 90 minutes in the English top-flight. The 28-year-old has also taken care of the ball relatively well when distributing it from the left flank as evidenced by his pass success rate of 82.3% in league football this season (stats via whoscored).
What Does The North Macedonia International Bring To The Table?
Alioski has decent pace in his locker and has proven himself to be a capable defender on the left-wing. He is not afraid to go in with a few strong tackles to earn possession back for his team. The 39-time North Macedonia international is also not shy of having a shot at goal from long range when given time and space by the opposition. What makes him such a valuable member of Marcelo Bielsa’s squad is his excellent work-ethic and creativity in the opposition half.
Why Bielsa Needs To Keep Hold Of Alioski For The Long-Run
Alioski is currently one of the first names in Bielsa’s teamsheets every gameweek, so the Whites cannot afford to let him go when his contract runs out at the end of this campaign. Leeds should prioritise on getting the ex-Young Boys player tied down to a new, long-term deal so that they can extend his stay at Elland Road beyond next summer.
At 28, Alioski still has plenty of football left in his locker to play at a high level. Therefore, it is only logical for the Yorkshire giants to keep him as an influential member of Bielsa’s team in the years to come.
