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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Gareth Bicknell

Ian Wright issues Eddie Nketiah demand after on-loan Arsenal star's latest Leeds goal

Eddie Nketiah's equaliser for Leeds prompted a two-word demand from Ian Wright to Marcelo Bielsa, with the Arsenal legend declaring: "Start him."

Wright took to Twitter to urge Leeds boss Bielsa to put on-loan Gunners ace Nketiah in his starting line-up after the striker came off the bench to salvage a point in a 1-1 draw against Preston at Deepdale.

It was Nketiah's third Championship goal of the season for Leeds - but the 20-year-old has yet to start a league game after coming off the bench 11 times.

Arsenal will want their loan star in the starting XI more - and it's not former Gunners striker Wright who feels the same way.

Leeds fans agreed in chorus on Twitter, with many calling for Nketiah to be in the starting line-up at the expense .of Patrick Bamford, who is having a barren run in front of goal at the moment.

Eddie Nketiah is congratulated after coming off the bench to equalise for Leeds on Tuesday (Getty Images)

One said: "He has to start. We've got one striker who can't score and has, absolutely no confidence, and another who can't stop scoring! No brainer!"

Another was desperate for Wright to give Bielsa a hand at Leeds, saying: "Ian please come down to Elland Road and be assistant coach I’m begging you."

With the score still at 0-0 deep into the game, Bamford missed a gilt-edged chance for Leeds with more than 20 minutes left as he rushed onto Mateusz Klich's cutback but snatched way off target.

Ian Wright had a simple message: 'Start him' (ITV)

That was one of several chances Leeds squandered, and they were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal when Preston's Sean Maguire raced free down the right and crossed for Tom Barkhuizen to tap home with little over 15 minutes remaining.

Nketiah came on for Bamford, and with three minutes left he rescued a point for the Whites, looping a header over Preston keeper Rudd and into the net.

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