Leeds supporters now consider Connor Roberts to be a friend. However, he is not a long-term right-back replacement.
Connor Roberts, who isn’t exactly a regular in the starting lineup just yet, has grown to be somewhat of a fan favorite at Leeds United.
The right-back, who was out of favor at Burnley, moved to Elland Road during the January transfer window, and even though he hasn’t played much, he has had a significant effect.
Roberts has only made one start since joining Leeds, but in that time he has already recorded a goal and an assist, demonstrating his value as a substitute when Daniel Farke’s team has been in need of a goal. His professionalism and sense of humor have also won him over.
Despite Roberts’ recent struggles with injuries, Farke has labeled him a “important” member of the team as the Whites go closer to the season’s end. Roberts is a Wales international.
Leeds is now third in the race for automatic promotion after their loss to Coventry City on Saturday. They must be prepared to take advantage of any mistakes made by Ipswich Town or Leicester City.
Roberts is a dangerous goal threat from full back and offers lots of defensive cover. In the second half, as Leeds attempted to find a way back into the match against the Sky Blues, his comeback over the weekend also allowed teenager Archie Gray to shift into midfield, where the 18-year-old is most at ease.
Roberts was an integral part of Vincent Kompany’s team that helped Burnley win promotion the previous season, but he found it difficult to adjust to life in the Premier League as the Clarets only triumphed once in their first nine games. Roberts is a top-tier player, no doubt about it, but he’s not a sure thing for any team searching for a reliable right-back at that level.
It’s possible to argue that Roberts has found his level now that he’s back in the Championship, so Leeds should be cautious about signing him to a long-term contract if they win promotion.
| Connor Roberts stats 23/24 as per Transfermarkt | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competition | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Minutes |
| Premier League | 14 | 0 | 0 | 819 |
| Championship | 9 | 1 | 1 | 221 |
| EFL Cup | 2 | 0 | 0 | 31 |
| FA Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 |
Leeds able to cope without Roberts
By all accounts, Roberts has been happy with Leeds, and even though he hasn’t played much, his goal against league leaders Leicester won over the Elland Road supporters.
Although Gray’s return to the team will be welcomed since it allows him to play in his more natural midfield position, Leeds’ performance won’t be significantly affected.
Leeds has only suffered a single defeat since Roberts joined the team. However, the 28-year-old won’t be recognized for having made a significant contribution to the team’s improvement in form because he has only started one game in that time—a 1-0 victory against Stoke City at home—and Farke has been able to make up for his absence in recent weeks.
Roberts not the definite answer to Leeds’ right-back issue
Leeds have rotated their options at right-back all season, with Luke Ayling, Sam Byram, Jamie Shackleton, and Djed Spence (prior to his loan being terminated) getting their chance. Gray has been the settled option there for most of the campaign since Autumn, even after Roberts’ arrival.
But whilst Roberts has provided cover and allowed Gray to push on into midfield on occasions, his lack of minutes suggests he isn’t a definite part of Farke’s long-term plans.
Leeds will want to bring in a new right-back in order to move Gray into midfield on a permanent basis, with Ayling, Shackleton, Byram and Cody Drameh all set to move on in the summer; it’s an area of concern in the squad, but Roberts is not necessarily the answer.
The former Swansea man has carved out a good career for himself in the Championship, but has struggled to hit the same heights in the Premier League, which Leeds will be mindful of. In a best case scenario, they will be in Burnley’s position looking to establish themselves as a top-flight side. Roberts wasn’t deemed a key part of Kompany’s squad and, whilst it might be different under Farke at Leeds, you can’t ignore that fact.
Burnley’s hopes of survival have been boosted in recent weeks, but they’re still among the favourites to be relegated to the Championship this season. This could provide Roberts with a lifeline, with his displays playing a crucial part in Burnley’s promotion push last season. He will potentially still have a future at Turf Moor if Leeds don’t look to bring him back in permanently.
However, the Welsh international did suggest he was open to joining Leeds longer term upon his arrival, indicating that he was closing a chapter on life at Burnley. The issue he has is obviously that he hasn’t, as yet, established himself as a key part of Leeds’ side under Farke.
Therefore, you would think that the Yorkshire club would be hesitant to decide on the 28-year-old in a snap decision. If they are promoted to the Premier League, they may determine he is the best fit for their squad, which is centered around a strong Welsh core, or they may decide they would prefer a safer pair of hands.
Though it’s not at the top of anyone’s attention just yet, the decision regarding the right-back position will be made in the final weeks of the season. Roberts, therefore, has a window of opportunity to convince Leeds to move forward and sign him.
