Garth Crooks says Leeds have ‘top-class’ player after Leicester draw

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Garth Crooks has told BBC Sport that players with the quality Raphinha possesses belong in the Champions League, and insisted that it is a matter of time before the Leeds United star is playing at that level.

The Brazilian netted his fifth Premier League goal of the campaign on Sunday. It was his free-kick that gave Leeds the lead against Leicester City.

It was an excellent finish from the 24-year-old. Unfortunately for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, the visitors equalised shortly after.

Raphinha has been outstanding. Certainly, Leeds look much more dangerous when they have the winger available and flying down the right wing.

Crooks suggested that he was unlucky to miss out on his team of the week off the back of his display against Norwich. And he backed the wide-man for the very top after his latest performance.

“This player was desperately unlucky not to get into my team last week after a blistering performance at Norwich,” he told BBC Sport.

“Against Leicester it was impossible to ignore the Brazilian again. It’s painfully obvious to me that here is a player who sets Elland Road alight, but the question is for how long. 

“Raphinha is a top-class player and most of them play in the Champions League. It’s only a matter of time.”

Raphinha has become Leeds’ talisman with yet another goal

There is a strong argument that no player is more important to Leeds’ system than Kalvin Phillips. Having said that, Raphinha has become their talisman.

No player in the current top 10 goalscorers in the Premier League has scored a greater percentage of their team’s goals than Raphinha.

Leeds fans know that keeping him is going to be a difficult challenge in the years to come.

He is already one goal away from matching his tally of league goals from last season. And he is now looking set to be a regular in the Brazil squad moving forward.

The upside for Leeds is his value will be soaring as he continues to steal the show.