Former Leeds United forward Noel Whelan has hard words about Whites goalkeeper Felix Wiedwald and has branded him a "coward" following the Elland Road outfit's 3-0 drubbing at Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday.
Leeds head coach Thomas Christiansen chose to make Wiedwald his number 1 at the start of the season and experienced shot-stopper Rob Green, seeing the writing on the wall, decided warming the bench in the Premier League would be better than the same task in the Championship and left for Huddersfield Town.
Despite Leeds' good start to the season, Wiedwald's form raised eyebrows and now the Whites are struggling there has been an even more intense focus on the German.
For Whelan, Wiedwald has poor decision making and is not a player who inspires defensive confidence.
He also dubbed the former Werder Bremen man a "bit of a coward".
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"I've never been overly confident with him since he's come to the club", Whelan admitted on BBC Radio Leeds.
"There is a weakness in that goalkeeper that doesn't fill me with confidence.
"That's even when the ball is on the ground and going back to him.
"His decision making when playing out from the back at times is woeful.
"You think about it's a high press – why are you playing balls into areas to your players when there is no need, go longer, bypass the dangers, win the ball back in midfield.
"He seems a bit of a coward – and that's the last thing you want for a goalkeeper. They've got to be brave.
"They are usually big men, come out, knees up, claim the ball.
"It's usually centre forwards that are cowards now because with some of these challenges they know they will come off second best", he added.
Leeds replaced Green with Andy Lonergan, who arrived from Wolverhampton Wanderers, but it is far from clear whether Christiansen will consider dropping Wiedwald.
