Exclusive:'He has to decide' - Joel Piroe's Leeds United dilemma assessed by Danny Mills as telling snub heightens doubt
Former Leeds United defender Danny Mills has weighed in on Joel Piroe's tough situation at Elland Road
Former Leeds United defender Danny Mills has conceded Joel Piroe has a tough decision to make regarding his future at Elland Road.
The 27-year-old forward was afforded just two starts in the Premier League last season, finding himself below Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha in the pecking order.
He has been part of Leeds’ pre-season preparations but did not see a single minute of action at the weekend as Leeds defeated RB Leipzig 2-0 in a friendly at Elland Road.
Post-match, Whites boss Daniel Farke conceded Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha are still ahead of Piroe.
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Danny Mills on Joel Piroe’s big decision
Mills, who represented Leeds between 1999 and 2004, told The Yorkshire Post: “It's always difficult for someone like Joel Piroe.
“Leeds obviously survived the first season, which was vital. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is probably the main number nine, but he has historically struggled to stay fit for back-to-back seasons, so they'll be very aware of that.
“Piroe is clearly a very good player, and he’s currently weighing up his prospects for regular first-team football. He has to decide whether he’ll get that opportunity at Leeds or if he needs to move elsewhere, which is never an easy situation.”
‘Never an easy conundrum’
Piroe himself has outlined his desire to remain at Elland Road and fight for his place in Farke’s starting XI.
There may be a reluctance to drop into the Championship, a division in which he is already a proven goalscorer, but the Suriname international could face another season in the fringes if he stays put.
Mills said: “While you naturally back yourself to succeed if given the chance, you also want to avoid taking a step backward just for the sake of getting minutes.
“It's never an easy conundrum to deal with, but he's got another four weeks to decide what he’s going to do.”
If Piroe does alter his stance and Leeds look to move the frontman on, he will undoubtedly have suitors in the Championship.
Earlier this year, Middlesbrough were credited with interest in the former Swansea City star, as were Leicester City prior to their relegation to League One.