Jesse Marsch on striker development after Leeds United World Cup break challenge was accepted - YEP 10/1/23
Giving Jesse Marsch what he was asking for in training led to Sonny Perkins' FA Cup opportunity and a Leeds United goal to savour.
By Graham Smyth
Still only 18, Perkins is a player Leeds were as excited to
sign as West Ham were sickened to lose, in the summer.
The Hammers are due a compensation fee for the teenager, who
penned a three year Elland Road deal back in July, and exactly what that
amounts to is decided by a tribunal if two clubs cannot reach a deal between
them.
West Ham issued a strong statement after Perkins rejected
their offer of a professional contract, hitting out at his representatives and
suggesting an approach from another club was what led him to ask to be released
from his scholarship.
Everything Perkins has done since will only have added to
West Ham's chagrin. Seven goals in nine Premier League 2 second tier outings
marked him out as a prospect, but it's his proximity to Marsch's first team
that has upped the excitement around the England youth international. And a
goal in the FA Cup will only heighten that.
Perkins came off the bench late on as Leeds chased an equaliser
at Cardiff City and with stoppage time ebbing away he popped up right on the
doorstep to poke home and secure an Elland Road third round replay.
Marsch took Perkins to Spain for the senior side's World Cup
break training camp, having handed him a first team debut in the League Cup
earlier in the season.
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He believes the forward has made big strides in recent weeks
and that, in turn, led to his involvement in Wales on Sunday.
"So first of all with Sonny we were really excited to
have the opportunity to bring him to the club in the summer," said the
head coach.
"We've tried to include him a lot with the first team
and push his development. Since we got back from the World Cup or the World Cup
break, I was adamant with him about playing with the intensity that he needs to
play and adapting more and more to the way we want to play football. And if he
could do that, then he would find more opportunities. He's done that really
well. And I think he's developed incredibly well over the last two, three
weeks."
Marsch and his staff, which continues to include Perkins'
Under 21s coach Michael Skubala as Leeds await the appointment of a replacement
for first team coach Mark Jackson, were confident the youngster could rescue
the cup tie at the death.
"Frankly, when we put him in the match, on the bench we
were saying he's one of the guys that can get a goal," said Marsch.
"And so that part was great."
Marsch's strikeforce will be strengthened this month as the
club seek to add a striker to the ranks. Georginio Rutter, Hoffenheim's French
Under 21 striker, is one of their key targets and Sky Sport Germany reported on
Monday evening that a €30 to €40m deal between the two clubs was close to
completion. If they could get Rutter over the line he would join top goalscorer
Rodrigo, the returning-to-fitness Patrick Bamford and youngsters Joe Gelhardt,
Mateo Joseph and Perkins as Marsch's centre forward options.
It's possible that Gelhardt will move out on loan this
month, with Swansea City keen on a temporary move.