da 888： This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
da pinup bet： Tyler Roberts is back.
The Welshman made his return to the Leeds side on Saturday as he made his first appearance from the bench following five months out.
He had fluid drained from his knee and consequently hadn’t played a single minute until he came on against Charlton.
Unable to influence the result on the occasion as his side still lost, he could still have a huge say in terms of their promotion hopes but also on various teammates in the Leeds squad.
Why? Because of his versatility.
On the chalkboard
Having a versatile player is a luxury to a manager and Marcelo Bielsa has favoured a number of players being able to play in different roles.
Two of the biggest examples fall at the feet of Kalvin Phillips and Pablo Hernandez. The former boasts the ability to play in defensive midfield and in central defence while the Spaniard can play in the middle and also out wide.
But another player who can do similar is Roberts. In fact, he play anywhere across the front line.
The £3.6m-rated man broke through as a centre forward but has since made his name playing in the number 10 role and out wide for Leeds.
It’s an aspect of his game that should have varying members of the squad fearing over their places in the side.
The 20-year-old has the ability to be the cat among the pigeons, sending a host of players scuttling around searching for extra quality.
Roberts might well start in the middle due to an injury to Adam Forshaw while Jamie Shackleton, who was subbed off at half-time last weekend, isn’t in tremendous form either.
Those are two players who could end up feeling the effects of his return to fitness but a player like Jack Harrison should also be fearful.
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He has completed just three accurate crosses all season and hasn’t been involved in a goal since the opening weekend.
It’s a shoddy record and one that could eventually succumb to Roberts if he’s preferred in a wide role.
That’s where he enjoyed the vast majority of his game time last term – six of his last seven matches were played either on the right or left.
But he could also have someone like Patrick Bamford sweating upfront. After all, he’s goalless in four games and Eddie Nketiah is also still vastly inexperienced at this level.
Where Roberts plays remains to be seen but if he performs to a consistent level and one of the aforementioned names drops out, it would certainly be damning on their part.