Leeds United suffered their first defeat of the new Premier League campaign at the weekend as they were beaten 1-0 by Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium.
Jesse Marsch was tactically outclassed by Seagulls boss Graham Potter and you can’t help but feel as if the Whites were just lacking something in the attack.
Their prospects certainly changed after the introduction of summer signing Luis Sinisterra from the bench.
It was the second outing in a row that the Colombian winger looked like a bright spark and you’d have to wonder why he wasn’t started, particularly as Dan James’ struggles continued.
‘Another who made a difference when he came on. Direct running helped Leeds bypass Brighton’s press. Came closer to an equaliser than anyone else,’ Yorkshire Evening Post reporter Graham Smyth wrote in his post-match ratings column.
In just half the time on the pitch, Sinisterra fired off more shots, managed one fewer pass and had one big chance missed, in comparison to James, via SofaScore.
Life after Raphinha has so far looked good despite the Welshman’s struggles – after all, this was their first loss from four and they thrashed Chelsea 3-0 last weekend.
The Brazil star sealed his dream move to FC Barcelona after he finished as Leeds’ top goalscorer and most creative player (1.8 key passes per game) last term.
Sinisterra was signed as his replacement in a £21m deal from Eredivisie side Feyenoord, where he scored an eye-catching 23 goals and laid on 14 assists in the very same campaign, as per Transfermarkt.
So he really ought to be starting for the Whites.
James has failed to score in his last 17 league appearances for Leeds, meanwhile, Sinisterra has already scored for his new club, firing a rocket in past Barnsley in the Carabao Cup, where he also provided an assist.
Once described as “really exciting” and as a “mouth-watering prospect” by former shot-stopper Paul Robinson to Football Insider, it’s clear that Sinisterra should be playing in the starting XI every weekend.
Marsch is merely holding his side back by not playing the summer signing.
AND in other news, Leeds eye late swoop for “brutal” 68-goal machine, could be bye-bye Dan James…
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