Leeds United chief executive heaps praise upon Whites forward's attitude after stunning goal - YEP 22/1/23
Leeds United CEO Angus Kinnear has commended teenage attacker Willy Gnonto’s attitude and professionalism in the wake of his wonder-strike against Cardiff City
Joe Donnohue
Gnonto’s finish inside 30 seconds of Leeds’ FA Cup Third
Round Replay in midweek stunned audiences around the country, and in the
19-year-old’s homeland, due to its striking similarity to countryman Paolo Di
Canio’s iconic scissor kick for West Ham United 23 years earlier.
The teenager humbly stated he believed Di Canio’s finish was
still better than his own, but has won the affections of all at Elland Road due
to his affable demeanour and undeniable talent.
After the Whites’ midweek cup fixture, strike-partner
Patrick Bamford commended the teen, suggesting Gnonto ‘doesn’t know how good he
is’. Chief executive Angus Kinnear has become the latest to praise the young
forward in his pre-match programme notes ahead of Leeds’ Premier League
encounter with Brentford.
"It was a great evening for Wilfried Gnonto who may
have already produced the Goal of the Season,” Kinnear wrote. “The quality of
Willy’s two goals are only matched by his exuberance and positivity around the
club more generally. His attitude exemplifies how a young professional should
approach the game, which makes it all the more pleasing that he is getting his
rewards on the pitch,” the chief executive added.
Kinnear also commented on Patrick Bamford’s recent return to
the scoresheet: “Patrick Bamford’s goalscoring return is also worthy of note.
Nobody has been more frustrated than him by his stuttering return from injury,
but three goals in 70 minutes were a timely reminder of the sublime quality of
finishing when he is fully fit.”
Leeds have several attacking options to choose from this
weekend, with club-record signing Georginio Rutter in contention from the
substitutes’ bench against Brentford, as well as 12-goal Rodrigo and the
returning Bamford fully fit and available.
