“Poor” 5/10 player slammed vs Monaco

Leeds United journalist Beren Cross was completely unimpressed by 19-year-old defender Leo Hjelde within the membership’s 2-0 pre-season defeat to Monaco on July twenty second.

Who’s Leo Hjelde?

Having arrived as a younger left-back from Celtic’s youth system again in 2021, there was an excessive amount of pleasure round Hjelde’s transfer to Elland Highway.

The Norwegian defender, who can also be comfy taking part in at centre-back, had stood out throughout a powerful mortgage spell with Ross County and Leeds finally managed to seize his signature.

Hjelde has performed five times for Leeds’ first group, together with twice within the Premier League through the 2021/22 season, however spent half of final season on mortgage at Rotherham within the Championship.

As soon as hailed because the “subsequent Van Dijk” (via Yorkshire Evening Post) by former supervisor John Hughes, Hjelde’s improvement has not fairly gone to plan up to now and his unimpressive performances in pre-season underneath new coach Daniel Farke have left lots to be desired.

Through the Whites’ 2-0 defeat to Monaco, Hjelde was panned by journalist Cross in his post-match rankings, receiving a 5/10 award – the equal lowest of any participant.

Talking about Hjelde, Cross wrote: “Simply not fairly catching the attention at left-back in both of the general public friendlies up so far. Appears hurried in possession and left a number of team-mates within the lurch with poor passes.”

Hjelde obtained the same rating by journalist Graham Smyth throughout Leeds’ 2-0 pre-season defeat to Manchester United ten days earlier, with Smyth additionally noting his lack of composure in possession.

Understandably nerves could possibly be taking part in their half within the teenager’s subpar performances, however Farke might be hoping that Hjelde can elevate his degree because the Championship season attracts nearer.

One teenager that did impress within the 2-0 loss to Monaco was 17-year-old Archie Grey who obtained a 7/10 ranking from Cross and was labelled as “glorious” throughout his 60-minute displaying towards the Ligue 1 aspect.

New signing Ethan Ampadu additionally shone in a holding midfield position, whereas the difficult Luis Sinisterra excelled in extensive areas. Nonetheless, targets from Kevin Volland and Wissam Ben Yedder have been an excessive amount of for Farke’s aspect, who’re but to attain in pre-season up to now.

When do Leeds play subsequent?

Leeds may have a five-day relaxation earlier than their subsequent pre-season conflict with Nottingham Forest. The pair confronted one another twice within the Premier League final season, successful one apiece.

Leeds will then journey to Edinburgh to face Hearts in what is probably going their closing pre-season enterprise. An undoubtedly simpler take a look at than Man United, Monaco or Nottingham Forest, Farke might be hoping to see a greater and extra structured displaying from his new aspect.

The Whites kick off their return to the Championship on August sixth once they host Cardiff Metropolis at Elland Highway and Farke will hope to have two pre-season victories within the financial institution by then.

What the German’s group will seem like come the opening weekend stays to be seen with Leeds having completed a fair bit of business so far, albeit largely in relation to outgoings.

Ampadu is the one signing up to now having arrived from Chelsea, however Rodrigo, Tyler Roberts, Joel Robles and Adam Forshaw have all left completely.

Brenden Aaronson, Marc Roca, Rasmus Kristensen and Robin Koch have all left on mortgage with a few of these offers anticipated to be made everlasting on the finish of the marketing campaign.