Sky Sports pundit delivers one-word verdict on Leeds key man
By Harvey Byrne
Sky Sports pundit Rob Earnshaw believes that Leeds manager Garry Monk has done an “excellent” job this season.
The 37-year-old boss took charge of the Yorkshire giants in the summer after Steven Evans lost his job at the end of last season.
Evans finished up with Leeds in 13th place in the Championship table, but Monk has now got them flying as high as fifth in England’s second tier.
This has led former Premier League striker Earnshaw to hail the manager, stating that he is now doing a good job after being sacked at Swansea.
“He’s done an excellent job” started Earnshaw on Wednesday morning’s Premier League Daily Show on Sky Sports News.
“I’ve got to give him credit because he’s a new manager. He’s still learning, but he’s also learnt from some great people like Roberto Martinez and the eight or nine years of this Swansea philosophy of how to play and how to be effective playing well. That’s given him confidence and that’s good for him because I feel he was a little hard done by at Swansea, but he’s now doing a good job.”
Monk lost his job at the Swans in December 2015 after 12 years association with the club.
His side were placed in 15th in the Premier League, but the Welsh club had greater aspirations and replaced him with now sacked boss Francesco Guidolin.
However, Monk could now be set to return to England’s top flight with a play-off position firmly in Leeds’ grasp.
It is unlikely that the Yorkshire giants will make the automatic promotion spots with 10 points separating them from second placed Brighton.
However, the play-offs present a chance for any team from fourth to sixth to earn promotion and Leeds will be keen to end their 12-year wait for Premier League football.
In other Leeds news, Simon Grayson believes this will go out of the window in Boxing Day clash against Preston.