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“Haven’t really seen much from him” – talkSPORT pundit demands more from £7.2m-rated Leeds man

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talkSPORT pundit Danny Mills has demanded that Eddie Nketiah does more on the field when gifted playing time by Marcelo Bielsa, having done little to impress the former Leeds United defender since his arrival on loan from Arsenal.

Nketiah has been awarded just 454 minutes of action in all competitions this season and is yet to start a league game for United, with his sole outings in the opening line-up coming during our brief Carabao Cup run in August.

The England U21 international scored goals in each of our EFL Cup ties, as well as successful efforts from the bench in the Championship against Brentford, Barnsley and Preston North End.

His strike at Deepdale in late October ensured we returned to Elland Road with a point to show for our efforts, but Nketiah is yet to score again having sat out four matches with an abdominal issue and has only featured twice since making his comeback at home to Middlesbrough 11 minutes from time.

Mills is clear in his thinking that Nketiah should be offering more to the side than he has been of late, and has gone as far as describing the £7.2million-rated striker as our most disappointing player of the campaign.

“You have to say Eddie Nketiah,” Mills told Football Insider. “He came in with a big reputation, had a good record at Arsenal for their U23s and in cup games.

“Scored in cup games, did okay when coming on but hasn’t done it when given extended run-outs and full halves.

“He has had limited opportunities, but we haven’t really seen much from him when he’s had those opportunities. And when you come from a big club with a big reputation, you have to perform, and you’d have to say if anyone has been below par, it’s Eddie Nketiah based on the performances he has had.”

Has Nketiah been our most disappointing player?

Yes, Mills is right

No way, he's been great

Nketiah certainly showed great signs of promise when representing Arsenal’s youth sides, with 28 goals in 38 Under 23 outings, 15 in 16 with their U18s and three in four UEFA U19 ties.

But playing senior football comes with far greater obstacles, and yet Nketiah has been relatively successful given his low return of minutes thus far.

He currently holds the club’s highest chance conversion percentage at 25%, and has won 48% of his ground duels and been successful with 57% of his dribbles, per Sofa Score figures.

If Nketiah is able to keep up his numbers – or improve them – while beginning to force his way into Bielsa’s starting plans, then Mills will have to revert on his comments. Although the key thing that will cause that would be the 20-year-old finding the back of the net again, having not scored since October 22.

In other Leeds United news, a 5 ft 6 Whites man is happy to leave Elland Road in January as the club look for offers.

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