Stuart Dallas lauds 'exciting' Noah Okafor after goal in Leeds United's 3-1 win over Burnley
Stuart Dallas lauds 'exciting' Noah Okafor following Leeds United’s 3-1 win over Burnley
Stuart Dallas reserved praise for Noah Okafor after Leeds United’s 3-1 win over Burnley.
Goals from Anton Stach, Okafor and Dominic Calvert-Lewin put the managerless Clarets to the sword last night (May 1) and pushed Leeds to the brink of safety in the Premier League. Okafor’s goal was his fourth in as many games, taking his tally to eight for the season.
Dallas, who represented Leeds with distinction for nearly a decade between 2015 and 2024, was on punditry duty and had plenty of praise for the 25-year-old.
Stuart Dallas hails ‘exciting’ Noah Okafor
He told Sky Sports: “It took him a little while to get going at the beginning of the year. He came in from AC Milan and they spent a bit of money on him as well. Maybe a bit of pressure on his shoulders to come in and deliver.
“He struggled at the start of the season through fitness as well, [but] he’s certainly delivering now. You’ve seen the record there, he’s in good form.
“He’s probably the player you look at now, when you look at that Leeds team, when you get on the ball, he’s probably the one in that team that gets you up off your feet. He’s exciting and he’s hit form at the right time for Leeds.”
Noah Okafor’s Leeds United exploits
Okafor arrived at Elland Road from AC Milan in a deal reported to be worth £18m last summer, penning a four-year deal.
He has had to adapt in his maiden campaign, shifting his role due to Daniel Farke’s adoption of a 3-4-2-1 formation.
The Switzerland international has been operating in behind and to the left of focal point Dominic Calvert-Lewin, causing plenty of problems for Premier League defences. He has made a total of 33 appearances across all competitions, weighing in with eight goals and three assists.
Leeds’ win over Burnley has sent them nine points clear of the drop zone, although safety is not yet mathematically secured.
Okafor and his Leeds teammates will undoubtedly have an eye on developments over the weekend, with rivals such as Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United in action.