It seems Leeds United midfielder Adam Forshaw has caught many by surprise with his return to form this season.
That’s after manager Marcelo Bielsa admitted he did not expect the 30-year-old to be as good as he has been since his return from injury.
After almost two years out of action with a recurring hip problem, Forshaw has made his return to the Leeds side in impressive style over the course of this season..
The midfielder has now made nine appearances in all competitions for the Whites this season, rapidly re-establishing himself as a regular starter in the side.
Indeed, the midfielder has now completed the full 90 minutes in two games in four days, featuring in all of the goalless draw with Brighton on Saturday, and the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on Tuesday.
Having produced another stand out performance in the centre of the park in that crucial victory over the Eagles, it now seems that Forshaw has even caught out Bielsa with the level he is already back playing at.
Speaking about the 30-year-old in the aftermath of that win over Palace, Biesa was quoted by Leeds Live as saying: “Very very impressed with him. To be fair and sincere, I didn’t expect him to come back to who he was before.
“And to have achieved it in a succession of games he deserves to be valued by those who helped him get healthy and for himself, his affections, I myself don’t include myself in that contribution.
“Because I never expected him to come back in this way.“
This does seem to go to show just how good Forshaw has been since returning to action this season.
If someone with the sort of footballing knowledge that Bielsa has is admitting to not expecting you to be playing as well as you are, then you clearly making a major impact.
Indeed, given the club did not bring in central midfield cover for Kalvin Phillips in the summer transfer window, the fact Forshaw is doing that could be vital for Leeds moving forward.
As a result, given what he has had to come through to get to this stage, you can’t help but admire Forshaw for his efforts.