Phil Hay has reiterated that Javi Gracia’s focus at Leeds United over the course of the March international break is going to be getting Rodrigo back to starting contention.
Leeds welcomed Rodrigo back into the fold for the games with Brighton and Wolves prior to the international break, with the 32-year-old stepping off the bench to score in the latter as Gracia’s side won 4-2.
That win at Wolves lifted Leeds to 14th in the Premier League table heading into the international break and there’s some renewed positivity at the club.
Will Rodrigo be fit to start after the international break?
Rodrigo missed the entire month of February owing to a fractured leg and Leeds eased him back with cameos from the bench against Brighton and Wolves.
Gracia’s aim for the international break is to get the Spanish international’s body into a position where he can start games from April onwards, according to Phil Hay.
“One of the things that Gracia said after the game at his press conference at Molineux was that he really, really hoped that through these two weeks he would be able to work on Rodrigo and push him in a way that would give him the scope to start on the other side of the international break.
“Start games, and not necessarily complete 90 minutes straight away, but to be an option from the outset. If he is an option and is fit enough to do that, he has to play.”
Phil Hay, via The Phil Hay Show podcast.
Rodrigo has played 24 times in all competitions for Leeds this season, scoring 13 goals and registering two assists, making it, by far, his most productive campaign at Elland Road.
Quiz: Has Rodrigo Moreno scored a Leeds United goal against the following 15 clubs – Yes or No?
Rodrigo is Leeds’ main man when it comes to goals. He’s proving more productive than Patrick Bamford and Georginio Rutter, with Gracia surely well aware that getting the striker fit will give him the best chance possible of solving the club’s main shortcoming when it comes to hitting the back of the net.
The international break has been well timed for Leeds when it comes to Rodrigo’s fitness.
Quite clearly he hasn’t been fit to start the last two games, but a fortnight off gives him the chance to work towards starting at Arsenal on April 1st.
That would be massive for Gracia and keeping his positive start to life as Leeds’ head coach going.