Leading Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has cast his judgment over Leeds’ temporary capture of Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah, following the England U20 international’s United debut in the Carabao Cup.
Nketiah started the EFL Cup clash against Salford City on Tuesday night, having joined the Whites on loan for the season on Deadline Day following Kemar Roofe’s transfer to RSC Anderlecht.
Neville, who co-owns the Ammies, has no doubts that the forward has his eyes on impressing in West Yorkshire to secure first-team football back in North London, and shared after the Carabao Cup tie that joining United for the term is a ‘win, win, win, win’ for the 20-year-old.
“If you’re coming from a club like Arsenal, you want to go to a club that’s representative of what you’re going to face,” he told Sky Sports, as quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post.
“Ultimately he will want to go back to Arsenal and play in their first-team. So to go to Leeds United, who are a big club, play in front of a big crowd every single week, with real pressure on, [and with the] expectation to go up this season, or every season for that matter, in terms of getting promoted out of the Championship.
“So you’re basically going to get exposed to a high level of football in a demanding environment at Leeds United, where there’s going to be pressure on under a great coach.
“It’s a win, win, win, win all the way through for Nketiah. Ultimately, it looks like a great loan signing for him. Leeds United will be hoping it pays off for them. It started well tonight.”
Nketiah was not included in the matchday squad for Saturday’s draw with Nottingham Forest, as the Championship fixture came too early for the Young Lions ace.
Marcelo Bielsa evidently felt the League Two opposition in Salford presented a better chance to bed the £7.2million-rated hitman into his plans, and will likely be considering what role he can play against Wigan Athletic at the weekend when we travel to the DW Stadium.
At least a spot on the bench must be on offer to the Gunners man, as the boss only naming midfielders and defenders on the substitutes list against Forest ensured we had no out-and-out striker on hand to mix things up after the visitors grabbed their late equaliser.