Scouting report: Jonathan Howson, Leeds UnitedJonathan Howson is already a good player but there will be a lot more to come from him as he gains experience and stature
Jonathan Howson is already a good player but I couldn't help thinking as I watched him in Leeds' play-off matches with Millwall that there will be an awful lot more to come from him as he gains experience and stature. Then, he will be able to lengthen his game, meaning that instead of playing in a rather restricted area of about 20 yards he will be able to make longer runs and have a greater range of passing. When that happens, he will have even more of an impact.
Having said that what he did, he did very well. He was neat and tidy on the ball and extremely comfortable when receiving possession, always keeping the play moving, never dwelling and hardly ever getting caught in possession.
His pass appreciation was also good and the man receiving the ball very rarely had to stop his run as it was always played into his path. Howson never missed a chance to make a tackle either – once or twice laying down a marker for his opponent that he wasn't going to be pushed around. He is competitive in the air without being dominant and he is a good reader of the game, particularly when he doesn't have the ball.
I liked the way, especially early on in the first match, when the opposition had a man over (in this case when Millwall released one of their full-backs) he made sure before he left the man he was marking that Leeds' deepest forward took his place as he went to confront the danger.
He covers the ground easily and I liked his positioning for second-phase ball, particularly when Leeds were defending, and because of this he was quick to spot the chance to start counter-attacks.
Caution was always going to be his first option in a play-off semi-final but I would like to see him break the line more, getting past his two centre-forwards to make third-man runs and burst into the box when the ball is out wide ready to be crossed in. If he had done this he would have given his marker something to think about because Leeds looked a little bit light on personnel when the ball was delivered.
This is what I mean by saying he needs to lengthen his game, as even his passing was at times restricted to a 20-yard radius.
Howson scored twice in last year's play-off victory at Carlisle, which shows that he's got goals in him, and there is no doubt that he has the ability to stamp his authority on games. Unfortunately for Leeds, he didn't quite manage it in this one.
He is a product of their successful academy and as a keen fan of the club he fulfilled the boyhood dream by making his debut back in September 2006. Such was his progress that season that he was voted their young player of the year, which was some feat with the amount of young lads Leeds always have in their team.
He's one player I'll be keeping an eye on in this youthful side, as it will be interesting to see how they handle the pressure of getting out of League One next year. If Howson can add the extra facets to his game to take him to the next level it won't just be him on the way up, but Leeds United as well.
Age 21
Born Morley
Position ÂMidfield
Height 5ft 11in
Weight 12st 1lb
From Trainee
Passing 8
Tackling 8
Heading Â7
Pace 7
Shooting 7
Team Âresponsibility 7
Value £750,000
guardian.co.uk
