Former Premier League striker Troy Deeney has admitted he was wrong about Georginio Rutter after watching him play for Leeds United.
Georginio Rutter established himself as a firm favourite with the Leeds fans during his time at Elland Road, overcoming a difficult start with the club.
The Rennes academy product was a crucial part of the team that made the Championship play-off final under Daniel Farke, leading the line for Leeds alongside Joel Piroe.
Rutter left Leeds for the Premier League after the Whites failed to gain promotion at the first time of asking, and created a goal for his new club Brighton when the two sides met at the Amex Stadium recently.
Now, Deeney has admitted that he had previously doubted whether Rutter could make the step up to the Premier League, and has been impressed by his performances since leaving Leeds.
Georginio Rutter battles Ethan Ampadu.
Photo by Harry Murphy/Getty Images
Troy Deeney praises Georginio Rutter following Leeds United exit
Speaking on TalkSport, Deeney admitted that he did not believe Rutter would be a success in the top flight following his big-money move to the south coast.
However, having watched the French forward succeed at Brighton since the switch, Deeney is now happy to accept that his judgement of the player was flawed.
Deeney said: “I think they’ve had a really disruptive summer as well, obviously. All the [Carlos] Baleba talk has not been great. You do need a foundation for the forward players to work better.
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“Baleba seems to be getting his mind around the fact that he’s there for a little while now, and needs to work. I’ll be honest, really surprised with [Rutter] making that step up from Leeds as well.
“I thought at Leeds he did okay, but I didn’t see this level of player, and Brighton obviously do, and that’s why they’re so good at it, but he’s done well.”
Leeds United still lack a player with Georginio Rutter’s skills
Leeds’ gun-shy attack has been one of the main themes of their season to date, despite Wayne Rooney proposing Dominic Calvert-Lewin for the England squad.
Part of their problem has been Calvert-Lewin’s isolation in attack, with Farke preferring to use a midfield three of Ethan Ampadu, Sean Longstaff and Anton Stach, meaning there is no classic number 10 in the Leeds side.
Georginio Rutter during Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion - Carabao Cup Fourth Round
Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images
Alongside his skill on the ball, Rutter was able to lead Leeds’ press in the Championship, a role which Farke trusted Brenden Aaronson to do from behind Piroe in the promotion season.
However, with Aaronson operating from the right and a three-man screen in front of the Leeds defence, Calvert-Lewin often cuts a lone figure in attack. Having a player like Rutter in the squad, playing closer to Calvert-Lewin, would solve a lot of Farke’s attacking issues.