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This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…
Leeds returned to the top of the table on Sunday as they secured all three points against Barnsley.
The Whites were made to work hard for their win as Kiko Casilla was drawn into making six saves.
However, as now seems to be customary, Eddie Nketiah popped up when it mattered.
His goal in the final ten minutes put Marcelo Bielsa’s men in front as he netted for the fourth time with what his second late strike in the Championship.
The 20-year-old’s goal against Brentford proved to be the winner but this was equally as important.
Leeds eventually prevailed 2-0 and it was Mateusz Klich who got on the scoresheet for the first time in the league this term.
His goal topped off a sparkling performance from the Pole who performed well both going forward and in defensive situations.
Klich was dominant in the middle of the pitch alongside Jamie Shackleton but it wasn’t just his goal that made his display exceptional.
According to WhoScored, he had as many as four shots and also played four key passes. But he also showed a willingness to get stuck in with two tackles and two interceptions.
This was undoubtedly his best performance of the season, managing a rating of 7.96.
This all came in a weekend where he was yet again linked with a move away from the club.
During the summer the Poland international attracted the interest of Burnley and that has again been mooted, despite talk of a new contract potentially being on the cards.
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Football Insider believe he could be holding out for a move with the player not yet agreeing on a new deal yet but this performance here only emphasised why Leeds simply have to keep hold of him.
Klich was at his creative best, following up a season where he contributed to 19 strikes in 2018/19. That was behind Pablo Hernandez who managed 24 involvements, but arguably this term, the former has become Bielsa’s main man.
That’s proven by the three key passes the 6-foot midfielder is making per game in comparison to the Spaniard’s 2.7.
With exit talk swirling around, this demonstrated how pivotal he is to the west Yorkshire side.
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