Willy Gnonto has developed into a key player since joining Leeds United.
Gnonto arrived on a chaotic deadline day in the summer of 2022 when Jesse Marsch was in charge, and has quickly gone onto become one of Leeds’ brightest young talents.
The 20-year-old was one of the few shining lights of Leeds’ relegation season last year, winning plenty of plaudits from pundits including Michael Owen.
After a difficult summer which saw him looking to force an exit from Leeds, Gnonto has worked hard to get himself back in the team and finally did so in February, and has not looked back since.
Gnonto had six goals in nine starts prior to picking up an injury on international duty, but returned to the starting XI last weekend, where he showed he can be Daniel Farke’s main man despite defeat.
Gnonto says ‘special’ teammate has helped him so much at Leeds
Last night, Leeds hosted their awards ceremony for the season in which a number of players received recognition for their performances over the last months.
Liam Cooper, Stuart Dallas, Luke Ayling, Patrick Bamford, Crysencio Summerville and Ethan Ampadu were all winners of the various awards on the night.
Leeds posted videos of the winners receiving their prizes on social media over the course of the evening, with Gnonto actually invited on stage alongside Summerville.
The two players’ friendship both on and off the field has been no secret in the time they have been at the club together. Gnonto was asked about that last night.
The Italian believes Summerville has taken him under his wing from the moment he arrived at Elland Road, and says he is ‘really grateful’ for him doing so.
He said: “I think it is special. Since the day I came here he has always been close to me so I am really grateful for him and all the other guys. I really enjoy every day with them.”
Gnonto and Summerville can fire Leeds to promotion
While Summerville has been deservedly inundated with awards over the last few days, it is Gnonto who has been Leeds’ best performing attacker recently.
Gnonto was ‘excellent’ despite Leeds’ defeat last weekend, while the likes of Summerville and Georginio Rutter actually struggled to get anything going.
With that said, Summerville should receive enormous confidence for the awards he has received this week, which can hopefully be shown on the pitch.
If these two are firing together at the same time, there is no reason why they cannot be the men to fire Leeds to promotion in the next couple of weeks.