BBC pundit shocked by ‘fantastic’ Georginio Rutter this season with Leeds United forward in ‘unfortunate position’
Georginio Rutter has been “fantastic” for Leeds United this season but can still have an “even greater impact”, according to Ross McCormack.
The BBC Radio Leeds pundit said live on the station on Saturday (28 October) ahead of the Whites’ 4-1 win over Huddersfield Town that the French forward had “massively surprised” him with his form this term, after a series of standout performances under Daniel Farke.
But after costing a club-record £35.5million last January [Sky Sports] McCormack doesn’t feel like anything Rutter does this season will be enough to truly satisfy because his transfer fee is so high for the second tier.
The former Whites striker said (12.17pm): “He’s surprised me massively this season, but he’s in a bit of an unfortunate position because no matter how well he does this season, for that price tag in the Championship it’s probably not going to be enough.
“But he’s played fantastic this season, he’s doing some great things. It’s a 46-game season so it’s ok to say he was carrying the team away to Stoke, they got beat 1-0, I want to see him carrying the team when they’re winning games as well. I want to see him go and have an even greater impact because it’s in there somewhere.”
It is impossible to claim that anyone’s plan for Rutter was to barely feature in the Premier League last season before exploding once the team had been relegated.
The paradox for the 21-year-old at Elland Road is that he arguably never should have been signed for so much by Victor Orta last season at a time when he wasn’t ready to saved a top flight side from the drop but the team badly needed someone who was.
And for that money the Whites would never have signed him in the Championship, and yet, having him in the squad in this division might end up being the key to promotion.
Whether it is greater confidence and comfort at the club that could only come from more time in his surroundings, better man management under Daniel Farke, or simply the fact that he is more talented than the second tier requires, Rutter has been looking like a player worth breaking the club record for this year.
McCormack is probably right that even by leading Leeds United back to the top flight the former Hoffenheim man won’t yet have justified his fee.
Only back in the Premier League can he really prove himself, but in his current situation he is doing close to everything he can to get there.