Owen Coyle: I knew Leeds would do well when they signed these three players
By Harvey Byrne
Blackburn boss Owen Coyle has claimed he knew Leeds would do well after they signed Kemar Roofe, Kyle Bartley and Pablo Hernandez in the summer.
The Yorkshire giants are currently sat in a strong fourth place in the Championship league table following the appointment of young manager Garry Monk in the summer.
The 37-year-old boss was keen to build his own side after taking over from Steve Evans and brought in 12 senior players in the summer.
Five of them were brought in on loan, but Coyle believes the Yorkshire giants still spent a good amount for the English second tier.
The Scottish boss highlighted the £3million signing of Roofe as one he thought would turn out well, while also identifying the loan moves for Bartley and Hernandez from Monk’s former side Swansea.
“Leeds were always going to do well,” started Coyle in Wednesday evening’s Blackburn matchday programme. “Because they spent heavily on their squad in the summer, bringing in the likes of Kemar Roofe for £4million, as well as Kyle Bartley and Pablo Hernandez from Swansea City.
“They finished mid-table last year, they then capitalised on that by building and adding to their squad, spending big money, so I always felt that Leeds were going to have a good season, which they are.”
Leeds are preparing to face Blackburn at Ewood Park on Wednesday night in a fixture which sees fourth take on 23rd.
The Yorkshire giants will be seeing it as a match they have to win with their current promotion hopes, while Rovers will also be eager to see victory to lift them from the bottom.
Monk also brought in wing duo Alfonso Pedraza and Modou Barrow on loan on deadline-day from Villarreal and Swansea respectively.
However, neither are available to play Coyle’s side due to the Championship’s registration rules.
In other Leeds news, here is the best possible Whites side to face Blackburn on Wednesday.
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