Former England forward Darren Bent has suggested that Eddie Nketiah could be set for another loan move away from Arsenal next season, if he does not start to get more game time at Leeds United in the current campaign.

Nketiah joined Leeds on a season-long loan on the final day of the summer transfer window, but has so far found opportunities hard to come by at Elland Road.

The 20-year-old has scored four goals in nine appearances in all competitions so far this season, but has yet to start a Championship match in the current campaign, with Patrick Bamford continuing to lead the line for Marcelo Bielsa's side, and Bent believes that could impact on Nketiah's plans for next year, even if the striker himself has done nothing wrong.

Speaking to Football Insider about Nketiah's situation at Elland Road, Bent claimed: “He is playing well and Leeds are in a bit of a funny one at the minute. Patrick Bamford puts in such a shift for the team and that’s why he’s probably still in there.

“Eddie Nketiah, to be fair to him, is still sticking the ball in when he’s getting the opportunities. It’s a bit of a weird one because it’s where does Eddie Nketiah go from here?

“If he continues like he is at the minute, through no fault of his own – it’s just that the team are preferring Bamford – what happens to him next season?"

Discussing those prospects for the 2020/21 campaign for Nketiah, Bent continued: "He’s not going to go back to Arsenal and play, not with the firepower they’ve got there already, so they’re going to be looking for another loan.

“You’re thinking: ‘A loan, again, really?’ So this is a big season for him.”

Leeds are currently fifth in the Championship standings with six wins and two draws from their opening 11 league games of the season, and are next in action when they host Birmingham City at Elland Road on Saturday.

The Verdict

I do agree with Bent here.

Arsenal have plenty of attacking options at the minute who seem to be ahead of Nketiah in the pecking order right now, so it will not be easy for him to force his way into the Gunners' side.

That will not be helped by the fact that he is not currently playing regularly for Leeds, which means he cannot currently produce the sort of performances that may change Arsenal manager Unai Emery's mind about giving him those chances when he returns to the Emirates next summer.

I am surprised by the lack of opportunities Nketiah has been given at Leeds this season when you look at how he has performed when he has been on the pitch for them, and you wonder if not using his talents more is something they may yet come to regret.

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