Blackburn Rovers insider provides clear answer on soft Leeds United goodbye for Ian Poveda - Leeds Live 28/10/21
Leeds United sent young winger Ian Poveda on loan to Tony Mowbray's Blackburn Rovers at the beginning of the 2021/22 season
Under Marcelo Bielsa's regime at Leeds United, players who
leave on loan are more often than not saying a soft goodbye.
To date, no outgoing loanee has made a successful return to
Bielsa's first-team squad, shoehorning their way back into the Argentine's
thinking.
In fact, the last Leeds United player to successfully
reintegrate themselves following a loan elsewhere predates Bielsa.
Mateusz Klich's spell in the Netherlands with FC Utrecht in
the months prior to Bielsa's arrival proved to be the most recent example.
This season, Kiko Casilla and Leif Davis have both left on
loan, with options to make those moves permanent included in their agreements
with Elche and AFC Bournemouth, respectively.
Meanwhile last year, Robbie Gotts spent time with Lincoln
City and Salford City before being shown the door for good a few months ago.
Similarly, Barry Douglas was loaned out to Blackburn Rovers
in the final year of his Leeds contract, and subsequently released at the end
of the 2020/21 campaign.
This time around, it's Ian Poveda representing Rovers on a
temporary deal from Leeds.
The 21-year-old made several substitute appearances for the
Whites last season, but struggled to make a serious impact during the games in
which he was introduced.
It was hoped he could develop in the Championship,
benefiting from additional game-time to better showcase himself to Bielsa and
his staff.
Unfortunately, that is yet to be the case. Following an
assist on his Rovers debut, Poveda has played just four more times.
"There were glimpses of how he can carve opposition
defences [on his debut], but his influence waned in the second-half,"
LancsLive's Blackburn reporter Jaquob Crooke tells LeedsLive.
"It was anticipated he would remain in the starting XI
following the international break, but he sustained a minor hamstring strain,
which is typical at Rovers, given Poveda's immaculate injury record, which
forced him out of fixtures against Luton [Town] and Hull [City].
"He made an immediate return against Barnsley, but was
largely abysmal, wasteful in possession, [with] questionable defensive
application. Since then he's been subjected to a role from the bench, but has
failed to make an impact."
Posed with the question of how 5ft 7in Poveda has dealt with
the rigours of Championship football, Crooke's answer suggests there is room
for encouragement.
"There's been little concern over his physical
adaptation," he said. "In the fixture against Middlesbrough he proved
he's capable of fending off challenges and mustering tackles himself.
"Against Coventry [City], he stood up to the aggressive
standing of Ben Sheaf and Liam Kelly to drive forward only for his
decision-making [to] let him down."
"I don't think we've seen enough of him to pass a
credible judgement, but he can be balletic with the ball at his feet, slaloming
between defenders with ease.
"Aside from that, he's yet to win over Blackburn
supporters with what he can contribute to this team," he added, implying
it is still early days for the young attacker, who might find himself used in a
different role more and more often this season.
"Mowbray sees him [as] more of a central player,
similar to that of Joe Rothwell where Poveda can aid transition, but there's a
lot of work needed to tidy up his craft around the opposition penalty
area."
With Dan James added on transfer deadline day this summer
and Crysencio Summerville coming to the fore, it seems as though it could be a
long road back for Poveda, but by no means impossible.
