Crysencio Summerville won The Championship’s Player of the Year award but Brian Deane thinks Leeds United have a problem whenever he gets the ball on the left flank.
The 22-year-old has been sensational for The Yorkshire club this season, having a hand in 30 goals for the Whites in what is his first proper season as a starting option in this Leeds side under boss Daniel Farke.
But it was not enough to deliver Leeds into the automatic promotion places with Leeds now set to do battle in the play-offs, with Farke going up against his old side Norwich City on Sunday in the semi-finals.
Summerville’s recent form has died off compared to his electric first half of the season at Elland Road, scoring just four goals in his last 14 Championship games for The Whites and managing only one assist.
Former Leeds striker Deane has been discussing Leeds and believes that The Whites have a problem when the winger gets the ball, suggesting other Championship clubs have worked out how to play against him.
Here is what Deane said about Summerville and Leeds’ lack of variety in the final third:
Deane says Leeds have a problem when Summerville gets the ball
In complete contrast to the rest of the season, Leeds have failed to score in three of their last five League games. Patrick Bamford was missing for the last two and only started two of the previous three games.
When Bamford did start, they managed four goals against his old side Middlesbrough and having that poacher in the box clearly helps Leeds. Deane thinks without that, Leeds lack variety in scoring goals.
He told Tribal Football: “I went to see them against Stoke. Cross came in and one of the forwards headed 10 feet over. I thought this could be a problem. If there aren’t different ways of scoring, you will struggle.
“People will work you out pretty quickly. Summerville’s a very good player but when he gets on the ball, they pack the area across the box now because they know he wants to come in and curl it round,” he said.
Chris Sutton names Summerville as a player Norwich must handle
Ahead of Sunday’s first leg at Carrow Road, Chris Sutton has identified the two Leeds stars that Norwich must take care of if they are to produce a bit of a shock and knock Leeds out to reach Wembley.
He thinks that The Canaries must get the better of Summerville and Willy Gnonto in order to progress to the final on May 26. Leeds will take confidence from beating Norwich both home and away this season.
Avoiding defeat in the first leg will be crucial in Leeds securing a place in the final, taking advantage of playing at Elland Road in the second leg but there is no doubt that it will be a tough tie for The Whites.