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Joe Rothwell’s arrival at Leeds United went under the radar initially, but his performances in pre-season have slowly caught the eye of impressed fans watching on.
Leeds’ July got off to a fairly worrying start with Archie Gray sold to Tottenham, followed by Glen Kamara not long after.
In an attempt to reinvest in the midfield, Leeds landed Joe Rothwell when Kamara headed to Rennes, joining on loan from Bournemouth after helping Southampton to promotion last season.
Rothwell was seen as something of an underwhelming signing as the club looked to rectify the lack of options and attacking quality in midfield.
However, his loan arrival from Bournemouth has given Leeds a profile they desperately needed in the squad, someone more adept in advanced positions than they had last season – with no goals in the 46 regular Championship season from the four main options, while Rothwell bagged four in half a season for the Saints.
His pre-season performances against Harrogate, Hannover, and Schalke showed that he fits in the setup very well and could be a bright starter for Leeds this August.
Leeds’ high-pressing setup without the ball looks to have ramped up somewhat if pre-season friendlies are anything to go by, with Farke giving more license to his double pivot to squeeze higher, playing into the strengths of Rothwell and co even more.
Last season, virtually every set piece that Leeds won was swiftly met with groans as the ball went into the first man, straight into the ‘keeper’s gloves, or was cleared with ease.
That major shortcoming shows in the club’s goalscoring from set plays, managing eight all season with only two sides mustering up fewer from a dead ball.
Given Leeds averaged six corners and 13 free-kicks per game, it’s a woeful return, and one that Rothwell might be helping to improve.
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