Sky Sports pundit Danny Mills has been left wanting to see more from Helder Costa following the winger’s display in Leeds United’s 1-1 draw with Brentford.
Boss Marcelo Bielsa fielded the one-time Portugal international in his starting line-up at Griffin Park, but failed to see the 26-year-old score his first goal in seven league games or register his first assist since November 26.
Costa last found the back of the net when he struck his third goal of the season away to Birmingham City in December, while last assisting an effort in the second-tier as we beat Reading 15 matches ago.
Mills has no doubt that Costa has the ability to perform far better than he has been of late, but has grown frustrated at seeing the SL Benfica product regularly struggle to produce consistent top-draw performances.
“All players with great ability, it’s not an issue but you’re always like: ‘Come on, give us a bit more, give us a bit more consistency, add a little bit more to that,'” Mills told Football Insider.
“That’s what it’s all about, that’s what it comes down to. Players like that frustrate you more than anything else. That’s the best way you can look at it.
“You know they have all the potential, know the ability that they have in there, sometimes they just don’t perform as you’d expect.”
Should Bielsa bench Costa vs Bristol City on Saturday?
Yes
No
Costa completed 35 passes at Griffin Park as we drew 1-1 on Tuesday night, which was the fourth-highest tally he has recorded all league season, per WhoScored, though that only accounted for 68.6% of his attempted passes.
Only four times in the second-tier this term has the 5 ft 10 wide man recorded a lower pass accuracy rating than he did against Brentford, where Costa also failed to find teammates with any of his crosses or through balls.
He also made five unsuccessful touches at Griffin Park during the week, a figure that only trails the six recorded against Blackburn Rovers back in November, though he was also only dispossessed once at home to the Ewood Park natives but was dispossessed five times on Tuesday night – the most he has been all season in a single game.
Mills, then, has every reason to be frustrated at Costa for not using his full range of talents against Brentford, and we will certainly need him to perform at a higher level this Saturday when we face Play-Off hopefuls Bristol City should he feature again.
In other Leeds United news, the club will listen to offers for a one-time international this summer.