Martin Keown hails Leeds striker Eddie Nketiah after England Under-21s hat-trick

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Martin Keown has raved about Leeds United striker Eddie Nketiah following his performance for England’s Under-21s side.

The 20-year-old centre-forward joined Leeds in the summer on a season-long loan from Arsenal and is an extremely highly-rated talent.

He proved his potential on Tuesday night by scoring a hat-trick in a 5-1 victory against Austria for Aidy Boothroyd’s Young Lions.

Nketiah also saw a penalty saved during a busy night for him, but can be pleased to notch three times alongside two goals for Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi.

BT Sport pundit Keown singled out the on-loan Leeds forward for special praise, as he showed his composure in front of goal and goalscoring instincts.

“He (Nketiah) makes such good runs, intelligent at all times. He’s always on the move and sets his body to put it in. He looked crestfallen when he missed that penalty and went off,” Keown told BT Sport 1 (9:50pm, 15 October).

TBR’s View:

Nketiah’s England hat-trick was a perfect one that showed he’s capable of all types of finishes, with his first one a right-footed effort on the swivel that he got the smallest of touches on.

The striker then guided in a brilliant header to the far bottom corner, before a left-footed effort that he tapped in from a cross.

He’s expected to be a future first teamer for Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium and that’s why so many Leeds fans are crying out for him to get more minutes at Elland Road.

Nketiah has four goals in nine games across all competitions this campaign for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, but finds himself stuck behind Patrick Bamford in the pecking order.

There is no doubting he will finish chances around the box given his composure in front of goal and that’s what Leeds are crying out for.