Leeds United might finally have the winter reinforcements they need to ease Gnonto problem

Leeds United almost certainly have the strongest squad in the Championship this season and its strongest department is, arguably, on the flanks. When you consider the relative strengths of United’s starters and back-ups, it’s hard to look past Daniel Farke’s wingers.

Any two of them could start and be among the very best players in the division and that’s still leaving two of them on the bench. Ironically, midfield, an area of concern when injuries hit Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev, is also a very strong department given the rise of their replacements and the arrival of Josuha Guilavogui.

The problem the manager has had up to now is finding consistency in selection and getting three of his wingers regular starts. While Wilfried Gnonto has done superbly to start all 15 Championship matches, playing down either flank, the other three have all been sharing pitch time because of injuries.

Daniel James and Largie Ramazani have six starts apiece, while Manor Solomon picked up the other three. Is there now a window of opportunity for the German, however? Might he finally have three of the division’s best weapons available to him through the notoriously demanding winter period?

James and Solomon have been back in the fold since the last international break, but have had to build their minutes up slowly. The former has already reminded supporters of what he can do at this level in superb turns against Watford and Plymouth Argyle.

There was some difficulty for him in the trips to Millwall and Bristol City, but after two months out of action, it was never going to be straightforward for the Wales international. Farke’s fingers will remain crossed as Wales play their second game tonight, but 45 minutes for the winger last week, after so long out, will have pleased his club manager.

Solomon has yet to really demonstrate why Tottenham Hotspur took him on last year, but after missing virtually all of last season due to injury, there were no guarantees the Israeli would hit the ground running. As he mentioned at Ashton Gate, Farke is continuing to shake the ketchup bottle with match time and hopes the sauce will flow at some stage.

The 25-year-old was highly promising on debut against Hull City, but further injuries halted his progress and he seems to have been trying too hard since his return to action. He has to be behind James in the pecking order, but he undoubtedly has talent enough to tear up this division.

Two starts with his country during this break will be important for Solomon too. Then there is Ramazani, who took advantage of the other two’s injuries to get himself going for the Whites. Four goal involvements in eight appearances said everything about the Belgian before injury struck.

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Farke said the ankle ligament issue could keep him out of training until the Swansea City trip or, in the worst case, the home game with Derby County next month. The 23-year-old teased a picture of himself in boots on Instagram last week, which should mean progress has been made.

The manager will provide a clearer update on the winger at the end of this week, but if he’s not in contention for Swansea, then Luton Town or Blackburn Rovers may be realistic aims. Farke will be cautious with Ramazani, but if he can build in the same way James and Solomon have, it may finally take some strain off Gnonto.

The 21-year-old has the potential to be the best player in the Championship. Gnonto has the attributes capable of following in his good friend Crysencio Summerville’s footsteps as that game-changing talisman.

Gnonto set the bar high for himself between the Sheffield Wednesday win and Sunderland draw. He was consistently among the best players on the pitch, but since the last international break that same impact hasn’t been there.

Defenders are doubling up on Gnonto and that is his cross to bear as such a talent, but he needs to find solutions. There has been one assist and no goals in the last six matches. He has hardly been poor, but by his high standards, that star power has been lacking.

Perhaps the ongoing returns of his three colleagues might ease the burden on him or even allow him to rotate out for one game. It feels like he needs a reset and the other three might finally be able to ensure all four are available to Farke at the same time.