By Richard Parks
Leeds United fans took to Twitter to drool over the comeback performance of Samuel Saiz in their 2-2 Championship draw at Derby County on Wednesday night.
Saiz was not named in the starting XI after serving a six-match suspension but was summoned from the substitute’s bench after 55 minutes as a replacement for Kemar Roofe.
He instantly brought greater composure and penetration to Leeds’ attacks in what was an enthralling encounter.
United led twice at Pride Park and thought they had won it when Ezgjan Alioski finished off a counter attack to regain the lead after 79 minutes to add to Pierre-Michel Lasogga’s opener.
But Kasey Palmer’s added-time winner denied Leeds a first win since Boxing Day and means they are eight points off the final play-off spot in a major blow to their hopes of gatecrashing the top six.
United fans took to social media to hail the impact of Saiz and urged new manager Paul Heckingbottom to build the team around him over the final months of the season.
Here is a selection of their messages on Twitter:
Just home from Derby. Good point disappointed we conceded late on but what a joy to see Saiz back! No blog tonight up early for work #lufc
— Andrew Butterwick (@MOTForever) February 21, 2018
Saiz brilliant there, if only we had him the last 6 games #lufc https://t.co/lPGFNqeEWy
— Barry Dunne (@BazDunne) February 22, 2018
Finally back home. M621 closed after an eventful night ???? plenty of positives, few negatives which I’m sure will be discussed in depth. Only thing I want to discuss is the impact of Saiz ???? we are a different beast with him in the side. Very unlucky to concede to two errors #lufc
— Brandon Yates (@BrandonYatess) February 22, 2018
1 point vs 3 doesn’t really matter when our season ended weeks ago. Just gonna enjoy Saiz’s last 13 games in a Leeds shirt before we sell him to West Ham for 8 million #lufc
— Ibrahim Banks (@TheShowOff85) February 22, 2018
Alioski can only play well if Saiz is with him, Wiedwald can’t play well at all, De Bock is only in the team because he’s left footed and Lasogga is god. #lufc
— cez mulc (@CezMulc) February 21, 2018
watching Saiz in full flow is an absolute delight ???? bloody love that little Spaniard #lufc
— Armo ????☀️ #NH69 ???????? (@Jordan_Armo) February 21, 2018
Dallas – commited
Saiz – Too good for us
Phillips – up n under to noone in particular
Alioski – enigma #LUFC— Ian Stevens (@lufcstevens82) February 21, 2018
my god how much have we missed saiz #lufc
— joe (@Joeleeds90) February 21, 2018
Special mention for Saiz. He is another level and just raises the side immeasurably. Gonna be hard to keep hold of, he really is top level quality #lufc
— Neil (@OooahhBerardi) February 21, 2018
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