Arsenal loanee Eddie Nketiah fed up with substitute role at Leeds: 'I've done everything to warrant a start'

Nketiah is yet to start a league game for Leeds but is their joint top scorer.
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Jack Rosser @JackRosser_16 October 2019

Eddie Nketiah has sent a clear message to Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa with the Arsenal loanee stating there is nothing more he can do to earn a start in the Championship.

Nketiah, who joined the Yorkshire club on a season-long loan in August, is yet to start a league game for Leeds but is their joint top scorer with Patrick Bamford, scoring four goals in less than half the time on the pitch.

The 20-year-old took his tally for the season with club and country to 10 last night, notching a hat-trick in England U21s 5-1 demolition of Austria, while he saw a late penalty to make it four saved.

Having scored in each of the Carabao Cup games he’s started, notched twice in six Championship appearances from the bench under Bielsa and scored six in four with England U21s, Nketiah says he now needs to be rewarded with chances from the off at club level.

“I feel like I've done everything I can to warrant a start,” said Nketiah. “All I can do is continue to apply that pressure by putting in good performances when I come with England and when I play for Leeds.

In Pictures | England U21s vs Austria U21s | 15/10/2019

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“I went there to play matches and to develop so hopefully in the coming weeks I'll get the opportunities to show why I can be in the team week in, week out.”

Nketiah was on the brink of joining Bristol City, with a medical booked at Ashton Gate, before opting for Elland Road in the summer and could yet represent another club this season, whether that be Arsenal or any other interested parties.

Fifa rules dictate a player cannot feature for more than two clubs in one season, though Nketiah is yet to make a competitive appearance for Arsenal this term, leaving the door open to another loan move in January should playing time not pick up.

Nketiah insists he continues to learn and develop under the guidance of Bielsa 
PA

“I've enjoyed the new challenge and I think I've been really pleased with my performances personally when I've been given the chances,” he said.#

“I feel like I probably haven't been given the chances I would have liked, I would have liked to pay a lot more minutes but I feel like every time I come on I've done well and now I'm still one of the top scorers, if not the top scorer in the team, with such limited time so I don't think I could do much more than that.

“Obviously, I'm never going to be totally happy if I'm not playing because I'm proud player, I believe I should be playing and I always want to be playing so I'll never be happy with not playing.”

Nketiah insisted he continues to learn and develop under the guidance of Bielsa, whose methods differ considerably from what he has experienced at Arsenal.

“He is a good coach,” said the striker. “I'm learning, I think I will learn even more when I'm playing so I can implement what I've learned and just develop, you always develop by playing.”

Following the international break Leeds face Birmingham on Saturday before travelling to Preston on Tuesday.

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