Graham Smyth has claimed that Brenden Aaronson is finally living up to comparisons with Lionel Messi after an impressive display in Leeds United’s win over West Ham.
Brenden Aaronson was in impressive form for Leeds as he scored his first Premier League goal in three years in the 2-1 win over the Hammers.
His goal-scoring performance earned praise from Daniel Farke and represented a welcome return to form for the American, who was criticised for his miss against Burnley.
With Dan James nearing a return to full fitness, Aaronson could drop out of the Leeds line-up for the trip to Brighton, as Farke looks to become the first Leeds manager to beat the Seagulls in the Premier League.
Now, journalist Graham Smyth has claimed that Aaronson showed the first sign of the form that earned him comparisons to Lionel Messi, with his impressive display in Leeds’ most recent win.
Brenden Aaronson celebrates with Jayden Bogle and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Brenden Aaronson living up to Lionel Messi comparisons
Speaking on the Inside Elland Road podcast, Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth focused on a moment in the second half, when Aaronson launched a mazy dribble from his own half, before hitting the crossbar with a deflected shot.
Referencing a nickname that was given to his younger days, when he was known by American fans as the Medford Messi, Smyth admitted that he had finally understood the comparison in that moment.
Smyth said: “It was a very classy run, but obviously the shot at the end of it wasn’t great. Aaronson, however, I’ve never said this, I’ve never said this term out loud because I hate it with all of my being, but when the Americans used to call him the Medford Messi.
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“I feel like for the first time ever, he actually lived up to that title because that honestly was one of the best, most stirring runs we’ve seen at Elland Road in a long time.
“Where he picked the ball up, how he beat players and left them in his wake, the slaloming body swerves to get away from players.
“He took Leeds out of a period of pressure, took them all the way to the other end of the pitch. And yes, the shot had a healthy deflection on it. But imagine if that had gone in and not hit the bar.”
Brenden Aaronson in action for Leeds United during a Premier League clash against Everton
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Aaronson can be an important impact sub for Leeds United
Aaronson received warm applause from the Leeds crowd when he was substituted in the closing stages of the game against West Ham, shortly before the Hammers pulled their way back into the game.
Alongside his goal, Aaronson impressed with his usual defensive tenacity and played an important part in holding the away side at bay, constantly harrying their back four.
Late goals have been a persistent problem for Leeds this season, and it threatened to come back to bite them again at Elland Road.
However, if Aaronson does lose his starting place to James, he could be a valuable weapon from the bench, allowing Farke to introduce him in the closing stages of games to ensure that his side’s intensity does not drop.