Former Leeds United defender Stephen Warnock has marked his old club as one of the favourites for promotion from the Championship this year.
Leeds came 90 minutes from the Premier League last year when they lost to Southampton in the play-off final and are being tipped by many to go all the way this year.
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In an exclusive interview with The Real EFL with BetVictor, the ex-England international said he thinks the Yorkshire side will be up towards the top of the table in what is a weaker league this year, but that it won’t be an easy task.
He said, ‘‘I think they’ll always be one of the favourites because of the name. Going to Elland Road for the opposition, playing in that environment and making it difficult for teams and opposition players, I think that’s one of the huge benefits and advantages. I think when you look at Leeds’ squad, it does have a lot of quality in it.
“I think it just depends on the players’ mentalities this year. Are they feeling sorry for themselves, are they going to bounce back, do they believe they can do it, perhaps a bit of a weakened league compared to last season? They’ll fancy their chances, but they’ll know it’s going to be very, very difficult.’’
Much of Leeds’ hopes lie on their ability to keep their key players from last year, with the club under more financial pressure due to their lack of promotion last campaign. Two of their best performers last campaign were attackers Wilfried Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville who have both been heavily linked with moves up to the top-flight.
Former Champions League winner Warnock thinks keeping the forwards will be key to Leeds’ fate this season and that if they stay injury-free, they could go all the way.
“You always look to Summerville and Gnonto because of the quality that they bring. A lot of people will feel like they’re Premier League quality and that they should be playing higher up but when you’re playing week in, week out in the Championship it’s so difficult to find that form over a longer period.
“But from Leeds’ point of view, it’s whether they can keep Gnonto and Summerville, it’s whether they stay at the club. If they do, then 100% you’ll look to those two players and they can be key players. I think the key thing is, they just ran out of steam because of the injuries last season.”
It’s not only the two young players who will have a part in any success this season, with the club having been busy this summer adding experience to the side. They’ve secured the services of ex-loan defender Joe Rodon permanently within the deal taking Archie Gray to Tottenham, and perhaps crucially have added Bournemouth midfielder Joe Rothwell on loan, adding vast amounts of Championship experience.
Warnock says these signings are as important as keeping their current players, providing balance to the side and proving crucial to the likes of Gnonto and Summerville.
He said, “You’ve got to find a balance of being able to get those players on the ball as often as possible but also you’ve got to find that experience of playing in the EFL and understanding how difficult it is.”
Rothwell in particular certainly adds that, with the 29-year-old having amassed nearly 250 EFL appearances to date. If, like Warnock says, Leeds are to go up, they’ll need him, as well as the whole squad, firing to stand a chance.
Writer’s View
Leeds are considered by many as favourites to go up this year, and their squad certainly backs up that claim. As Warnock mentions though, retention is key, as without their star men, Leeds’ chance are certainly smaller.
Mentality is also worth considering here. The side need to move on from last year’s disappointment while staying humble; they aren’t too big for the Championship and must remember that as if they get ahead of themselves they may slip up once again.
