According to Football Insider, the coaches at Leeds United believe that Jean-Kevin Augustin will be a completely different player when the season resumes after the coronavirus shutdown.
The Frenchman was signed on loan from RB Leipzig at the beginning of the year after Eddie Nketiah was recalled by Arsenal due to the lack of regular playing time.
However, the 22-year-old has since failed to make any meaningful contribution for Marcelo Bielsa’s side and he managed only three substitute appearances before the season was brought to a halt in March due to the coronavirus outbreak.
During this period, he has struggled with fitness concerns which have been related to a minor hamstring injury but Leeds appear confident that the forward will put the issues behind him when the campaign resumes.
As per Football Insider, it is revealed that the Frenchman has been working hard with his rehabilitation at Thorp Arch and the focus has been particularly on getting him up to speed to meet the demands of Bielsa on the field.
Augustin may have struggled during his initial Championship career but he comes with a good reputation, having bagged 20 goals and eight assists in his 67 appearances for Leipzig.
Patrick Bamford has obviously been Bielsa’s undisputed choice to lead the line this term but the striker has not been a regular scorer with just 13 goals from 36 outings.
Bielsa values his workrate more than his goalscoring exploits but Leeds will need the extra contribution from Augustin, particularly if things get tough when the campaign recommences.
Leeds are currently top of the league standings with a seven-point advantage over third-placed Fulham, and they are in a good position to seal automatic promotion to the top-flight where they have not played since 2004.
Still, the task remains far from straightforward, considering the Yorkshire outfit squandered a similar advantage last term, much to the frustration of their supporters.
June 20 has been highlighted as a probable return date for the Championship. Augustin will be hoping to make an impact to guide Leeds to the Premier League after a 16-year wait. In that case, the club may consider triggering the buy option on his contract.
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