Crysencio Summerville will be hoping to be Leeds United’s main man for one last time this season on Sunday.
Leeds are set to face Southampton in the Championship play-off final at Wembley to compete for the final place in next season’s Premier League.
Summerville was crowned the division’s POTS last month having scored 19 goals and provided nine assists during the regular campaign, adding to that tally against Norwich City last week.
Unfortunately, his performances were not quite enough to get Leeds over the line for the top two, but Sunday’s final will give both him and his teammates another shot at securing an immediate return to the top-flight.
Leeds were beaten on both occasions by Southampton in the regular season, with Summerville enduring a couple of tough afternoons up against star man Kyle Walker-Peters. Hopefully that will be different at Wembley.
Summerville says he has built a real ‘connection’ with Junior Firpo this season
Leeds’ attacking players have been the ones grabbing the headlines this season and when you think of link-up, Summerville, Georginio Rutter and Willy Gnonto always spring to mind.
One third of Rutter’s 15 assists in the league during the regular season were for Summerville, while the Dutchman and Gnonto immediately became best friends both on and off the pitch following the latter’s arrival in the summer of 2022.
However, in an interview with Leeds Live, Summerville has actually spoken of the ‘connection’ he has built with Junior Firpo as the one he has really enjoyed developing over the last few months.
Since properly establishing himself in the team in January, Firpo has provided eight assists from left-back. His consistent ability to get on the overlap has been the perfect foil for Summerville’s tendency to cut inside on his stronger right foot and get shots away.
Summerville said: “Through the season our connection grew a lot. I love to play with Junior on the left and we feel each other like water. I can only say it’s been good.
“Normally, some people could take a shot, but he had a look, saw me and thought ‘Okay, Cree is in a better position’ so he played me the ball.”
Leeds’ left-side battle vs Kyle Walker-Peters will be crucial on Sunday
One of the most important battles in Sunday’s final will be down Leeds’ left-hand-side, where they will be coming up against Walker-Peters.
Walker-Peters got the better of them both during the fixture at Elland Road earlier this month, skinning Firpo for the second goal and restricting Summerville to just two dribbles.
If Leeds are able to get two vs one against the former Tottenham defender, though, they could get some real joy down that side of the pitch.
Not only will Firpo need to be at his sharpest defensively, but his overlapping runs could be so crucial to Leeds’ ability to create chances and win the game.