Leeds United legend Eddie Gray is of the opinion that Andy Lonergan deserves to be in the starting line-up against Bristol City at the weekend, following the goalkeeper’s impressive performance in the 1-0 defeat to Reading last Saturday.
The 33-year-old was signed by the Whites from Wolverhampton Wanderers in late August to provide competition for fellow summer signing Felix Wiedwald, who has looked shaky in recent games.
As a result, Leeds boss Thomas Christiansen dropped the German and handed Lonergan his first league start of the season for the visit of the Royals.
Despite the Yorkshire giants losing the contest, courtesy of Mo Barrow’s late goal, Lonergan managed to give a good account of himself at Elland Road.
And Gray, who feels Christiansen did the right thing by playing Lonergan in place of Wiedwald against Reading, believes the former Wolves man did well enough to retain his place at Bristol City.
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“It was the right decision [to drop Wiedwald]”, he was quoted as saying by the Yorkshire Evening Post.
“I’ve heard people say it was a big decision but to my mind it wasn’t.
“If you’ve got an outfield player who isn’t performing, you leave him out.
“That’s why you’ve got a squad.
“Thomas had to make that change and Lonergan did well – certainly well enough to stay in the team.”
It is Lonergan’s second spell at Leeds, with the custodian having previously turned out for the Whites between 2011 and 2012.
