Willy Gnonto has had to be patient for his opportunity at Leeds United this season, but he is not the only one.
After returning from an ankle injury in mid-October, Gnonto started just two matches between his first game back at Norwich City and the end of January due to the form of Dan James and Crysencio Summerville.
In the end, Gnonto’s patience paid off, having finally made his mark on the season by scoring six goals in nine league matches, now making the right-wing spot his own.
Gnonto is one of a handful of players who have come to the fore since the turn of the New Year during Leeds’ incredible run of 12 wins in 13 league matches. Patrick Bamford, Junior Firpo and Ilia Gruev have all done the same.
Gruev in particular will have found things tough after arriving from a new country in the summer, but simply not getting the chances he needed to adapt to a different league.
Daniel Farke often said that Gruev was working really hard behind-the-scenes in training for his opportunity, however it was up to him to take it.
Gnonto says it is ‘crazy’ how hard Gruev has worked for Leeds chance
Gruev’s chance finally came at the beginning of 2024 due to Pascal Struijk’s injury, which saw Ethan Ampadu move to centre-back, and the Bulgarian taking his position in holding midfield.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Official Leeds United Podcast, Gnonto was speaking on the importance of having to constantly be ready to take his chance in the team when it finally came.
