I played out wide for Leeds United - Noah Okafor must do one thing to keep Whites in the Premier League
Leeds United have leaned heavily on the former AC Milan winger to lead their Premier League attack.
Former Leeds United winger Jermaine Pennant believes Noah Okafor could hold the key to Premier League survival - if he continues on his current trajectory.
Okafor joined Leeds from AC Milan in an £18million deal over the summer and proved to be the only attacker Elland Road chiefs spent money on. The 25-year-old looked sharp in a pre-season friendly against the Whites but arrived in West Yorkshire with fitness concerns handing over his head.
Leeds have managed Okafor’s minutes carefully so far and it's clear already the Swiss international will be their difference-maker, with an ability to create chances on his own that few others in the squad possess. Two goals is a decent early return and with the tricky winger’s fitness improving every week, Pennant hopes that tally can only increase.
“I think he's done good, he’s their top goalscorer,” Pennant told the YEP via NewBettingSites.uk. “I know it’s only two goals and other people have chipped in but he looks like a handful. He’s very direct, pacey and strong and also as a left-winger, he’s got an eye for goal.
“If you’ve got your wingers chipping in over the course of the season with 10 or 15 goal contributions, that’s a good sign to be successful which for Leeds means staying in the Premier League. He’s been a good signing 100 per cent and if he continues on the trajectory he’s going in, you’d be confident maybe that Leeds can stay up.”
While there are concerns over who can do it in the weeks Okafor can’t, Leeds’ start to the season has generally been well-received. They will go into the November international break outside the relegation zone, regardless of Sunday’s result at Nottingham Forest, and are largely where most fans expected them to be.
Leeds United’s season so far as Nottingham Forest await
Away form has been a problem, with three defeats from four - all of which Leeds have failed to score in. But Elland Road has proven a fruitful home, with Tottenham Hotspur the only team to leave with all three points in a five-game spell that also included Newcastle United and Bournemouth.
“I think it’s been good,” Pennant added of the season so far. “They’ve had some late goals go in against them which has cost them, but they're four points above safety, and I’ve always thought that if they are going to stay up, they need to stay up at Elland Road. That’s where most of their [good] performances look like they’re coming from.
“Going there it looks like a difficult place to go. It’s kind of what I expected, they were the best team in the Championship out of the three coming up, and I did say that out of the three, I think Leeds will stay up.”
Leeds are back at Elland Road immediately after the November international break but will need to be at their best to keep the positive results coming. Farke’s side host Aston Villa on November 23 with Liverpool, Chelsea and Crystal Palace also due in West Yorkshire before the year is out.