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Doukara and Antenucci – the partnership of dreams

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Leeds United have been blessed with successful forward partnerships in the past. Mick Jones and Allan Clarke is the first that springs to mind, then there’s Lee Chapman and Rodney Wallace and more recently Luciano Becchio and Jermaine Beckford. This season’s new look United team looks like it could bring the Elland Road faithful a new forward duo – Mirco Antenucci and Souleymane Doukara.

Mirco Antenucci

Despite the fact we’ve got Billy Sharp, a proven goalscorer at this level, it seems that the Doukara and Antenucci partnership could be crucial for Leeds to achieve this season. Both have hit the ground running – bagging six goals between them in all competitions, Doukara has 4 and Antenucci 2. Arguably United’s most impressive performance of the season so far, the 3-0 win over Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield on Saturday, saw both play pivotal roles.

Doukara was drifting out to the wings, finding plenty of space and he even had the end product to match. Antenucci gave the Town central pairing a torrid time – getting in behind on more than one occasion. He knew when to come deep and his ball retention was something I haven’t seen from a striker at Elland Road before.

You would’ve thought that they’ve played together for years the way they were linking up on Saturday, it was by far the most enjoyable Leeds performance I’ve seen this season. Credit has to go to Neil Redfearn who allowed the United players to play with freedom and do their own thing. Let’s hope Darko Milanič will continue where Redders left off.

Time will tell if they can continue with their early form. One thing’s for sure – this is the most excited I’ve been about a Leeds team since for years.

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