This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
When Robbie Gotts was only a small child, he was compared to a junior Wayne Rooney.
An article in 2007 in the North Yorkshire News detailed his potential despite only playing U7s football at the time.
He was playing in a Leeds United Invitation six-a-side tournament and was supposedly one of the smallest players on the pitch.
Gotts is now 19 and is still fairly diminutive at 5 foot 10. However, he’s also a part of the senior set-up at Elland Road.
Arguably, there has never been a greater chance for him to stake a claim to Marcelo Bielsa and a club he’s been at ever since that tournament.
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The teenager signed a new deal in February 2019 and has since appeared on a frequent basis on the substitutes bench without ever getting on the pitch for the senior side.
This could, however, be about to change.
Jamie Shackleton picked up an injury last Tuesday against West Brom, a problem that will now keep him out for at the very least a month.
We expressed on FFC how the youngster wasn’t really ready to start before that encounter against Albion but he put in a performance than ensured Leeds were missing him when he went off.
That was evident in the fact they had to take off his replacement in Tyler Roberts for a more defensive player.
But Gotts is now in a place where he deserves his chance, particularly if Adam Forshaw remains out too.
The youngster broke through in the U23 side as a right-back but under Carlos Corberan he’s taking on a new lease of life in central midfield.
It’s an area that’s hotly contested at Elland Road with the likes of Alfie McCalmont and Mateusz Bogusz coming through the ranks as well but Gotts impressed hugely on Monday against Crewe.
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The U23s suffered defeat but the midfield man earned plaudits from supporters and even scored a tidy finish from close-range.
His ability to pop up in goal scoring positions makes him a candidate to feature, especially with productivity in the final third lacking.
Leeds have amassed over 17 shots per game this season but have scored the ninth fewest strikes in the division. On too many occasions, particularly Swansea and Charlton, they haven’t been able to get over the line.
That isn’t to say Gotts is a player that could solve this but he could certainly help add a different dynamic.
In 2007, coach Cliff Trotter said: “I’ve been coaching lads for more than 30 years and have seen many talented youngsters. Some have gone on to play for professional clubs but I’ve never seen anyone quite like little Robbie.”
It’s encouraging to see that he hasn’t faded into the background since then, but now could be his big chance.
After being on the bench regularly, a first-team debut might well now be on the cards.
