Is Adam Forshaw's Glorious Return Like a New Signing for Leeds?
Adam Forshaw returned to the Leeds United starting XI for a league match for the first time in 700 days to play against Leicester City, and it was like he'd never been away. Leeds fans had almost forgotten what the midfielder was capable of, but he ran the show in the centre of the park against the Foxes and helped his side dominate the game. It seemed that the Whites had made a mistake in failing to sign a new midfielder last summer, but Forshaw could be the player they desperately need right now.
Forshaw Can Drag Leeds Out of Their Rut
After returning to the top flight with a bang under Marcelo Bielsa in the 2020-21 season, Leeds have thus far been unremarkable in their sophomore campaign. Indeed, according to the Premier League predictions, Leeds are in a rut and expected to be facing a relegation battle towards the end of the season.
Preparing to face a Tottenham Hotspur side who just brought in Antonio Conte as manager, Leeds could find themselves back in the bottom three after the next round of fixtures finishes. The Tottenham v Leeds betting places the Italian's side as firm favourites at 7/10 to win the game. The good news for Leeds, though, is that Conte hasn't had much time to embed his methods at Spurs yet, meaning that Bielsa's men have a chance.
Forshaw could be a pivotal player against Spurs, as Conte typically likes to get a stranglehold on the midfield to control games. With the 30-year-old now lining up alongside Kalvin Phillips and bolstering the centre of the park, Leeds can run the show and prevent the Spurs midfielders from spraying the ball out to their wide players. This may even force Harry Kane to drop deep, meaning he is less of a threat in the box.
Bielsa is a Firm Believer in the Player
Forshaw's performance in the 1-1 draw against Leicester City showed why the club put such faith in the player overcoming his injury and getting back into the first team. In the summer, chairman Andrea Radrizzani cheekily replied to fan tweets asking about fresh signings and said that Forshaw was the new player. He may have been on to something.
The former Middlesbrough man gave Leeds an energy they had been missing all season. He had 55 touches and exchanged passes between every other Leeds player bar Illan Meslier in goal. These stats highlight how he was constantly moving around the pitch, linking up play, and creating spaces with quick, clever passes.Adam Forshaw
— Andrea Radrizzani (@andrearadri) August 26, 2021
Bielsa has always held a firm belief that Forshaw would be a major player for the club. When the Argentine first took over at Elland Road he identified Forshaw as his most talented weapon. He was quoted as saying that the Liverpool-born midfielder could do a job for any Champions League team, which made it all the more devastating when he succumbed to such a serious injury that kept him away from the game for almost two years.
If Forshaw has truly shaken off his niggling injuries, he could be a powerful asset for a Leeds side that desperately need to start clawing their way back up the table. In a sense, it's like the Whites have a new signing at their disposal.