Eddie Nketiah holds all the cards when it comes to making or breaking his Leeds United future.
The Arsenal striker agreed to join the Whites on loan in the summer for the full campaign, but injury struck last week just as he was set for his full league debut.
An abdominal injury put pay to Nketiah’s presence against Queens Park Rangers and he will miss out this weekend too.
While an agreement is in place for Nketiah to remain at Elland Road for the full campaign, it is understood the Gunners will have break clauses if conditions on playing time are not met.
Naturally, the Premier League side want to ensure their asset is seeing enough game time to aid his development.
While Patrick Bamford was initially keeping the 20-year-old off the pitch, it is now an injury which is putting his United future at risk by restricting his minutes.
Asked about Nketiah’s future beyond the next transfer window, head coach Marcelo Bielsa suggested much will depend on the striker’s own opinion.
If Nketiah does not play enough to automatically see out the full season, it looks like he will be given the choice of whether he wants to stick around.
“I think that if he feels comfortable with us, this is going to be the key for him to stay or not,” said Bielsa.
Asked if he felt Nketiah was comfortable, Bielsa said: “He must say it, not me. We have the same position as when he arrived at Leeds.
“After leave and share with him, our opinion about him is better than the initial position we had before he arrived here. That was very good.”
