Tyler Roberts edges ahead of Eddie Nketiah with brace in Leeds win

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Throughout the first-half of the season, plenty of Leeds United fans were imploring Marcelo Bielsa to hand Eddie Nketiah more game-time as the Whites often struggled to turn their dominance into goals.

Nketiah regularly came off the bench while on loan with the Whites. And he did go on to score some important goals, with a winner against Brentford, a late opener at Barnsley and an equaliser at Preston North End.

He did ultimately make two Championship starts for Leeds just before he returned to Arsenal in January. Those displays were perhaps not the youngster’s best for the Whites.

But his form since his return to the Emirates – two goals in five appearances – has arguably increased the pressure on Leeds to make sure that they get promoted.

With Patrick Bamford currently on a run of seven games without a goal, it has become harder to ignore the fact that Nketiah is now getting chances for Mikel Arteta’s side in the Premier League.

Nketiah averaged a league goal every 166 minutes for Leeds (via Whoscored.com). Bamford meanwhile, has needed over 228 minutes for each of his 12 league strikes. So some fans may fear that Nketiah’s January departure may come back to haunt them this season.

However, after Saturday’s 4-0 win over Hull City, it must now be noted that Nketiah no longer boasts the best minutes per goal ratio for Leeds in the league this season.

Tyler Roberts came off the bench and bagged a stunning brace in the emphatic victory. The Wales international rounded off an outstanding team move for Leeds’s third goal before producing a remarkable diving header for the final goal.

Roberts now has the same number of league goals Nketiah bagged for the Whites. But he has needed fewer minutes to do it.

The 21-year-old has scored one goal every 160 minutes for Leeds.

Admittedly, Nketiah’s goals were probably more significant in terms of winning Leeds points. But Roberts ensured that the game was put to bed on Saturday. And it was his piece of brilliance that broke the deadlock during November’s win over Queens Park Rangers.

And Roberts has given Leeds a huge boost that Bamford is not their only striker option while Jean-Kevin Augustin is sidelined.

It could therefore, be a big statement for Roberts to overtake Nketiah for minutes per goal. The youngster looks ready to ensure that Nketiah’s early exit does not come back to haunt Bielsa’s men.