Leeds United really are spoilt for choice when it comes to creators and goalscorers.
Especially in the wide positions. When you have the luxury of bringing Willy Gnonto and Largie Ramazani off the bench as Daniel Farke does – the former an Italy international and the latter arriving after scoring a La Liga goal against Real Madrid last season – you know you’ve got a chance.
Leeds United’s first-choice wing pairing of Manor Solomon and Dan James, meanwhile, have a highly impressive 39 goal contributions between them throughout the campaign.
Farke can really have no complaints, then, about the productivity of his forwards. Leeds are comfortably the most prolific team in the Championship. They need only nine to match their tally from the entirety of last season, with ten games remaining.
David Moyes can only dream of such ruthlessness in the final third.
The returning Everton boss might have sparked a pretty impressive turnaround since making an emotional Goodison Park homecoming – the fear of relegation is now a distant memory – but Everton still have the fourth fewest amount of goals of any Premier League team.
In fact, the trio of stuck in the bottom three – Ipswich Town, Southampton and Leicester City – are the only ones with a worse goalscoring record.
Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images
Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images
David Moyes wants more from Leeds United loanee Jack Harrison at Everton
No wonder Moyes is demanding more, then. Particularly from Jack Harrison.
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In 27 matches, the Leeds United loanee is yet to open his account or provide a single assist with Jesper Lindstrom – a player who arrived from Napoli to big expectations – faring no better.
“Both players are yet to register on either front this season,” Moyes sighs. “Let’s be fair, you won’t have longevity if you’re not going to get me assists and goals.
“You have to find ways of coming up with those numbers. I think both have done well but I need goals from them, I need assists from them. They both need to improve greatly on that.”
David Moyes is certainly an admirer of Jack Harrison. The veteran Scot hailed the winger’s work ethic when taking over from Sean Dyche.
But, with the summer window approaching, the message is clear. With no goals and no assists to his name, Harrison must start contributing and fast if he is to get Everton thinking about a permanent deal.
“I think [Harrison has] probably lost some confidence and maybe a lack of belief,” Moyes said recently. “So we need to bring that back. That might take a little bit longer.”
Harrison future uncertain as Everton look set to send him back
Leeds Unitedwere told a few weeks ago by football correspondent Graeme Bailey, meanwhile, that a return to Elland Road could be on the cards. Harrison, who cost Leeds £11 million when joining from Manchester City, could potentially be an option in a Stuart Dallas-style marauding left-back role with Junior Firpo’s contact expiring.
“I wouldn’t rule it out at Leeds. I don’t see [Junior] Firpo staying,” Bailey explains. “I wouldn’t rule out Jack Harrison coming back.
“Leeds will obviously want to rework the squad but, when you’ve got a player that’s spent the last two years in the Premier League coming back, a solid Premier League player, I’m not sure they will turn their nose up at him.”
Harrison has a chance to finally open his account when Everton face Wolves in Saturday’s late kick-off.