In a recent interview (via Leeds Live), Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa shared his thoughts on the current situation of Tyler Roberts, who came off the bench to score a brace in the 4-0 win over Hull City last weekend. When asked about whether he was considering making a change up top, the Argentine tactician said (via Leeds Live), “Clearly it is an option.
“Tyler can play in this position. Normally we always have two players to fight for one position. He can be an option for Patrick and he also can be an option for Klich or Pablo as a playmaker.”
The Whites boss went on to add (via Leeds Live), “When one striker scores, of course, that has a high value and after that, the manager considers this.”
Roberts’ Sporadic Role For Leeds This Season
Roberts has endured a stop-start campaign at Elland Road so far after making only 13 appearances while securing a total of 481 minutes of playing time in the EFL Championship. He has mostly been used as an impact substitute due to all his injuries and has just two starts to his name this season.
However, the 21-year-old has finally made a name for himself after putting in a goal-scoring cameo against Grant McCann on Saturday, which could enhance his chances of getting more first-team starts in the coming weeks. He has averaged 1.1 shots per game in league football and has a pass success rate of 71.1% (stats via whoscored), but the stats can be a bit misleading as he has often been deployed from the bench.
In contrast, Patrick Bamford has managed to get a lot of football under his belt but has been far from convincing in terms of his offensive contributions recently. He made a promising start to the season but has failed to register a goal in each of his past seven starts in the league. Even though Bamford has worked hard when leading the charge for the Whites, one can’t help but wonder whether he should be dropped for a few matches so that a player like Roberts can get his chance to shine under Bielsa’s tutelage at West Yorkshire.
What Does The Welsh Attacker Bring To The Table?
Roberts has decent pace in his locker and can make some well-timed runs behind the opposition backline. The Gloucester-born talent has primarily been used as a centre-forward but can also play out on the flanks or assume the duties of an attacking midfielder in the number ten position. He can also use his strength to hold the ball up and get others involved in and around the opposition penalty box. However, the ex-West Bromwich Albion forward needs to be more consistent with his end product in the final third if he wants to get a regular run of games at Elland Road.
Should The Whites Offer Roberts More Playing Time?
The six-time Wales international’s versatility coupled with his quickness makes him a worthy candidate to lead the charge down the middle. Bielsa can also use him in a more central role behind Bamford or even play him alongside the English striker up top. Roberts’ recent goal-scoring return versus Hull City has undoubtedly put him in a good position to earn more playing time over the next few weeks.
There is no denying that the 21-year-old deserves to start more often, so it makes a lot of sense for Bielsa to put his faith on the young striker’s shoulders. If Roberts can find some form in front of goal, then he could help Leeds seal promotion back to the Premier League at the end of this campaign.
