Leeds United are currently yet to see the best of Jean-Kevin Augustin this season or anything even close to what he is capable of, and Paul Robinson believes the striker is under pressure to prove he’s worth a permanent deal.

The Whites were in a sticky situation in the January transfer window as they pushed to bring in a new striker through the doors to add the firepower needed to lift the club to the Premier League as Patrick Bamford’s struggles persisted.

They eventually landed on the loan signing of Jean-Kevin Augustin from RB Leipzig, but his match-fitness was clearly not up to scratch and it saw him take his place on the bench despite having a lot of European pedigree in his short career.

53 minutes later in three substitute cameos and Augustin suffered a hamstring injury which has further hampered his road to Bielsa-level fitness, and there are major doubts now about whether Leeds will actually see the striker they pulled out all the stops to bring in from the Bundesliga.

Tyler Roberts’ impactful cameos from the bench along with Bamford ending his goal drought has allayed some of the fears that there isn’t enough goal-threat in the squad, but the peculiar case of Augustin’s current standing in the Leeds squad leaves a lot of questions about his future.

Speaking to MOT Leeds News, Paul Robinson hasn’t been convinced by the lack of impact that the 22-year-old has had at Elland Road, and believes he has to prove his point to earn a permanent deal with the Whites in the summer.

He stated: “Should Leeds sign him on a permanent deal? It depends what league we’re in and how fit he gets himself between now and the end of the season.

“I think basically he’s on trial between now and the end of the season. I don’t know the ins and outs of the deal and whether it’s an obligation – I wouldn’t have thought it would be.

“His career has been stop-start for a long time. He went to RB Leipzig and they farmed him out on loan to Monaco.

“He’s got a lot to prove and I’d say that between now and the end of the season he’s on trial for his career at Leeds.”

There is an option to buy for Leeds if they don’t go up, however, this would be an obligation if they do clinch promotion to the Premier League, all permitting the player’s willingness to do so, as per Phil Hay of The Athletic.

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The verdict

It hasn’t been at all the start that Augustin or Leeds were expecting from him as he is yet to score or even start a game.

The Whites haven’t been missing him much in his absence as five wins and clean sheets have moved them seven points clear of third place.

Robinson is spot on in his verdict that it’s up to the Frenchman to prove that he is worth Leeds’ time and money beyond this season.

There is no doubting that he has serious ability and could be a phenomenal player for Leeds in the future with a full pre-season behind him, but this season doesn’t look great for him already