Eddie Nketiah hoping hat-trick for England U21s helps earn Leeds starting spot
Eddie Nketiah says his hat-trick for England Under-21s shows he deserves to be starting for Leeds.The Arsenal striker bagged a treble in the Young Lions 5-1 romp over Austria at Stadium MK on Tuesday to take his tally to six goals in four games for his country this season.It is with Aidy Boothroyds side where he is getting most of his minutes this term as on a season-long loan from the Gunners he is yet to make a Championship start for Leeds.Top performance from the boys tonight! Unreal feeling to score a hat-trick for @England #YoungLions pic.twitter.com/NaQHEyNBJE Eddie Nketiah (@EddieNketiah9) October 15, 2019He has scored two goals in seven appearances off the bench, with another two in starts in the Carabao Cup, but he can still not get a look-in in Marcelo Bielsas league team.He is convinced he is worthy of a place in the starting XI and says his hat-trick for the Young Lions is a statement.The 20-year-old said: From my point of view, I feel like Ive done everything I can to warrant a start and all I can do is continue to apply that pressure by putting in good performances when I come with England and when I play for Leeds, working hard. @EddieNketiah9 dialled in another great performance for England tonight! The #LUFC forward bagged a hat-trick in the 5-1 win over Austria! pic.twitter.com/2xR3qPR0ts Leeds United (@LUFC) October 15, 2019I went there to play matches and to develop so hopefully in the coming weeks Ill get the opportunities to show why I can be in the team week in, week out.Its been disappointing for me not to start in the league, I went there to play games and get games. Its still early times. I think every time Ive come on a done well and shown why I think I should be playing.I think tonight was a good statement and a good way for me to put across a performance and hopefully Ill be starting in the next run of games.Despite his prowess in front of goal, the 20-year-old is struggling for game time at Leeds (Tim Goode/PA)Having scored 10 goals in 13 games, there is no doubt Nketiah knows where the goal is, but his all-round game is still raw. And he believes he will learn more by regular action.Im always learning and when I come away here or back at Leeds, its a new environment, I feel like I am learning a lot, he added.I think Ill learn even more by playing, times like this is good for me to come away and get game time here. Im looking to push on. I went there to play and I think I believe Im good enough to be playing in the team. I want to kick on when I get back and hopefully get a run of games.(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){
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