"Nine times out of ten" - Joel Piroe salutes fresh Leeds United boost with personal end of season mindset
Joel Piroe was given a rare recent start in Sunday’s FA Cup clash against Norwich City.
Leeds United striker Joel Piroe has saluted a big fresh personal boost and declared his end of season mindset at Elland Road.
Nineteen league goals during the 2024-25 season saw Piroe win the Championship’s Golden Boot as his side went up as Championship champions but the Dutchman has found game time very limited upon United’s Premier League return following the arrivals of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha.
Piroe has started only two of his team’s 29 Premier League games so far this season with another 11 outings from the bench combining for a total of just 217 minutes of top-flight football.
Piroe, though, was handed a first start since January’s third round FA Cup clash at Derby County in Sunday’s fifth round FA Cup tie at home to Norwich City as he and Nmecha lined up together and the pair combined as Piroe scored his first goal since bagging four in the 6-0 thrashing of Stoke City last April.
After a brilliant run forward from Anton Stach, Nmecha teed up Piroe with a square ball across the box from the left hand side and the onrushing Piroe applied a beautiful first-time curling finish into the opposite corner of the net.
“It should be nine times at least a goal”
Piroe said there was only thing on his mind as Nmecha’s pass came towards him - “goal” - and one which he says his given him a big personal boost as he now aims to take whatever opportunities that come his way over the final three months of the season.
“It's always a pleasure to score and it always gives you an extra boost,” said Piroe to LUTV.
"It's what you want as a striker or forward player especially.
“When the ball gets rolled into you like that, the only thing is it has to be on target.
"I would say if I do this ten times it should be nine times at least a goal."
Asked about his mindset now going into the end of the season and run-in, Piroe declared: "Take as much as you can. Of course the game time can be limited but I just want to show myself as good as possible for every game really."