Leeds United are in the midst of their final international break until March and hopefully the final slice of disruption in this stop-start Premier League campaign.
Overall, there has been plenty to be pleased with in the first eight matches of the return to the top flight.
While the team is 15th in the table, they are closer to Champions League qualification than relegation and with some highly impressive performances to boot.
The recent taste has been sour with one win in the last five, but the manner of some of those games has been hugely encouraging, especially against the might of Liverpool and Manchester City.
Here’s a run-down of our ratings out of 10 for the main players in the league campaign so far (the likes of Raphinha and Kiko Casilla just haven’t played enough).
Illan Meslier - eight
Spectacular, match-saving performance at Sheffield United as good as a brace or a hat-trick from a striker. Excellent at Liverpool on the opening day too, despite the scoreline. Has been very steady until the past week. A little confidence-booster against Arsenal would be timely.
Luke Ayling - eight
Picked up where he left off in the Championship and looked like one of those most at home in the top flight. Staggering at the heart of defence against Aston Villa, but central to the clean sheet at Blades and the battles with last season’s top two.
Robin Koch - eight
Right up there with the best of the best in this squad so far. The ideal start from the player brought in to replace Ben White. Leicester City was not his finest hour, but colossal against Blades, Manchester City and Wolves. Has fronted up to the physical battle and complimented that with his technical prowess on the deck.
Liam Cooper - six
Injuries have not helped the captain with his consistency. Looked a little out of his depth last week in the two thumpings against the likes of Jamie Vardy and Wilfried Zaha. However, as good as anyone in the tight draw with City. Will surely improve with regular starts.
Ian Poveda - six
One of the surprise packages so far. Has made a genuine impact when he’s come off the bench in the main. Changed the flow of both games against Blades and City from the bench. Final product not always there and invention was lacking against the deep defences of Wolves and Leicester.
Patrick Bamford - eight
Only four players have scored more Premier League goals this season and nobody would have if the offside rule was sensible. A deafening retort to the doubters in this small section of the campaign. Villa, of course, catches the eye, but he was a menace at Liverpool too. Difficult evenings against Wolves and Leicester just keep him off a nine.
Ezgjan Alioski - five
Yet to really have a say on the season, from the bench or the start. Hooked at half-time against City, could have done more with his attacking possession at Villa and caught out of position at Palace. A solid option off the bench.
Tyler Roberts - five
Did okay at Anfield on the opening day, but this season has been an extension of last term’s restart. Roberts has not caught the eye since that brace at Hull City from the bench last season. There are odd flashes like his through-balls against City, but it’s too inconsistent. Doesn’t seem to tick enough boxes with or without the ball.
Stuart Dallas - seven
Your classic seven-out-of-10 every week. Fantastic at Anfield and Bramall Lane, especially the latter where only Meslier’s saves overshadowed him. Hard to say anything other than steady since then and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Helder Costa - seven
Cracked the door open a touch for Raphinha to have a run at his starting berth for the Arsenal game, but one of the best in those opening weeks. Really caught the eye in the Fulham and City games with his pace, dribbling and crossing. Another candidate for that second-season spurt under Bielsa.
Pablo Hernandez - six
No flow to his season at all yet because of injury in the main. Outshone by others at Liverpool and then very steady in the defeats to Leicester and Wolves. Too early to say the step up’s too much for him.
Rodrigo - seven
Cruelly struck down by coronavirus as he was improving by the match. Looking every inch the £27m forward Victor Orta could not resist the opportunity to snaffle. So intelligent wherever you put him on the pitch. Proving a revelation in that deeper role. Difficult early outings with Liverpool and Fulham just keep his grade down.
Pascal Struijk - five
As with Roberts, you have to take the age into account, but when you compare Struijk with his team-mates it’s hard to say it hasn’t been challenging for him. It’s been a rapid rise given how surprised we were to see him even playing Barnsley in the Championship less than six months ago. Good at Liverpool in the deep end, but lessons learned at Villa and Palace.
Jack Harrison - six
Exceptional opener at Liverpool promised so much, but his only other impact was in the Villa match where he tormented Matty Cash. Very average otherwise and a hard afternoon for him at Selhurst Park. So much potential and we have seen him come through spells like this before.
Kalvin Phillips - seven
Consider his absence officially felt in the last two. One of many with an outstanding display at Anfield in the opener and coped well with City after the early onslaught. His rating escaped the marking down many others have had in the past week.
Mateusz Klich - eight
Like Dallas and Ayling, Klich is just so consistent all the time, but then has the ability to turn it up a notch on the right day. Scintillating at Liverpool and one of his best Elland Road performances against Fulham. A blemish playing out of position against Leicester, but better than average almost every week.
Jamie Shackleton - seven
Very limited pitch time, but his star turn from the bench at Villa was superb and reminded us all of what may be to come with age and experience. Tough night against Leicester keeps a lid on the mark for now.
