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Noel Whelan issues honest verdict on Leeds player that start on Sunday
Noel Whelan has questioned Helder Costa’s attitude on – – after the Leeds United winger started on Sunday against Manchester United but failed to provide any kind of difference.
Costa, 27, continued in the starting line-up on Sunday with Raphinha still injured. He firstly appeared on the right before swapping with Jack Harrison at times – before being replaced by Polish ace Mateusz Klich on 72 minutes.
The one-time Portugal international joined Leeds initially on loan at the start of the promotion-winning season to the Premier League. He has since clocked up 68 appearances for Leeds, having a hand in 18 goals for the Whites.
But since promotion, his form has struggled. He has just two goals and three assists in 22 Premier League games, and Whelan has now questioned the former Monaco man’s impact and attitude at Leeds following Sunday’s outing.
“Costa just infuriates me,” Whelan said. “He infuriates me because I know he has got the ability but I just do not know if he wants it enough. That is the problem, I do not know if he wants to squeeze [out everything he has got].
“He is not physical, he is not physical at all [for the Premier League], no. And with that sort of pace I would be driving at players all day long, trying to test them, take them on, linking up play. I cannot figure him out.”
TBR’s view – Do Leeds need to cash in, and sign a replacement?
Costa is a good player, he knows Marcelo Bielsa’s style and demands, and he is seemingly happy to come in and out of the side with the knowledge that Raphinha and Harrison are first choice on the flanks.
So, keeping Costa as back-up is a good move. Plenty have suggested that the Portuguese man needs to be replaced, but it will cost a huge amount to replace Raphinha and Harrison – and who is going to join and just sit on the bench?
