Former Leeds United attacker Noel Whelan feels although Jack Harrison is not a natural centre-forward, the 22-year old deserves some criticism for his below-par performance in the Whites' 2-1 FA Cup defeat against QPR on Sunday.

Harrison was given the nod to start up front as Marcelo Bielsa decided to rest Kemar Roofe, but he failed to impress as the Whites were knocked of the FA Cup.




Bielsa rested several first-team players for the clash, but Leeds were competitive and managed to head into half time with the score at 1-1.

QPR scored the winner 15 minutes from time, however, as Jake Bidwell got on the scoresheet and made the difference.
 


Whelan sympathises with Harrison after he was played out of position, but believes the 22-year old should have offered more against QPR.

“Yes [he deserves the criticism] because if you are playing through the middle and playing as a striker you've got to offer more”, Whelan said after the game on BBC Radio Leeds.
 

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“The two of them [Tyler Roberts and Harrison] are not out and out strikers.

“They are number 10s, one's a winger.

“So you haven't got a natural centre forward up there who knows how to work the backline, run in behind, hold the ball up, be in the right place when the crosses are coming in, try and find that half a yard across the centre half.

“That is why a lot of players when they get in wide positions don't want to put the ball in the box, they've got nothing to aim for."

Leeds have a break of five days before they take on Derby in their next Championship fixture, and the Whites will hope to bounce back after three defeats in their last three games in all competitions.