Eddie Nketiah is on loan at the right club claims former manager

Ian Holloway gives his opinion on the development of Eddie Nketiah at Leeds

When Eddie Nketiah made his loan switch from the Emirates Stadium to Elland Road this summer, most fans were excited at the prospect of the academy star developing with more game time.

However, Nketiah’s stint with Marcelo Bielsa’s side hasn’t brought about as much game time as fans had expected. The attacker has mainly been used as an impact substitute. But Ian Holloway believes that is the best approach for the young attacker’s development.

Nketiah has already netted five times in eleven appearances for the Premier League promotion hopefuls. This has caused many fans to call on him to start games ahead of other attackers at the club.

However, Holloway does believe he would make more impact off the bench than when he starts games for Leeds as he is just an intelligent attacker and not an experienced one.

Marcelo Bielsa deserves credit

”He’s not starting because he is inexperienced – but he is brilliant at what he does in the moment. In 90 minutes he might not give you what he is giving you as an impact off the bench. That’s clever management,” Holloway said.

I’m very aware that being a manager you have to put people in the right position and that is part of your skill. So I would give Marcelo Bielsa credit that Nketiah is coming off the bench and scoring.

Some young players who start regularly lose their efficiency. They think they are ready for the 90 minutes but they aren’t quite.

I fully understand what Bielsa is doing and fully respect it – because he has been a manager for a long, long time.”

Nketiah remains in the long term plan at Arsenal and the club is following his development closely. There have been calls for his loan to be terminated so that he can be sent to another team with more game, but that may be too much of a gamble as he is currently developing well at Leeds.