Leeds United should start Helder Costa in place of wasteful Jack Harrison

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Leeds United have made a solid start to their 2019/20 Championship campaign and currently sit pretty at the top of the table.

The Whites were denied promotion last season by Derby County who defeated them 4-3 0n aggregate in the play-off semi-finals.

It left Leeds wondering what might have been and consigned them to yet another season outside the country’s elite division.

Boss Marcelo Bielsa has built a decent squad once again, however, and Leeds have been beaten just once this season.

Some concerns are starting to creep in, however.

Derby rescued a point in the dying stages of their game at Elland Road on Saturday, despite a glut of chances that were squandered by Leeds.

Taking chances has proved a real problem this season, with Forest also performing a smash and grab on Leeds earlier in the campaign.

Bielsa isn’t one for mass rotation, although the time has perhaps come for him to unleash at least one of his summer recruits from the start.

Leeds caught the eye when they landed Wolves winger Helder Costa during the summer transfer window. Having led Nuno Espirito Santo’s team to promotion two season’s ago, it was an arrival that really made the division stand up and take notice of Leeds.

Time for change

For whatever reason, the 25-year-old hasn’t started a league game for Leeds yet this season. Given his quality, the time has surely come for Bielsa to unchain the shackles and let Costa do his thing.

Jack Harrison has been keeping the on-loan Wolves man out of the team and is form has been abject at best. According to Who Scored, Harrison has made just one successful cross into the box in eight games this season.

The Portuguese winger will be chomping at the bit to get a proper chance. During the 2017/18 campaign, he scored five goals and registered six assists as Wolves romped to the league title.

His pace, energy and ability to play in all three forward positions would make him a useful asset for Leeds who have looked toothless of late.

Costa is a proven promotion-winner when it comes to the Championship and Bielsa would be wise to start him against Charlton this weekend.