David Prutton singles out two ‘inconsistent’ Leeds players for criticism after play-off failure

It was a hugely frustrating performance at the home of English football, with Leeds well below their best. In typical fashion, Leeds were at their best in their previous game against Norwich, a 4-0 win.

Defeat sees Leeds forced to play at least one more season in the Championship and the club will now have to sell a number of key players to balance the book with £190m owed to clubs in player transfers.

One of those players is Crysencio Summerville, who has been linked with Liverpool and Chelsea for a fee of between £35m and £40m. Ally McCoist believes Leeds could bid farewell to Georginio Rutter.

Prutton believes the Leeds duo of Summerville and Rutter are inconsistent

Summerville won the league player of the season award and Rutter produced the best form of his career with 26 goals and assists. But it’s fair to say both dropped after the March break.

Indeed, the whole Leeds side did. Rutter was unable to rediscover his best form after having hernia surgery during the break and managed just one goal with no assists over the next 10 as Summerville was in and out.

Prutton wrote in his Evening Post column: “Leeds haven’t featured in many games and that’s because they are inherently inconsistent. The players we are talking about did not light up the Premier League.

“Crysencio Summerville no, Georginio Rutter no. Some have experienced very high levels, but they are inconsistent. If it wasn’t, it wouldn’t be between the Premier League and the Championship.”

Prutton named the Leeds duo in his team of the season

While Prutton’s verdict makes sense in the sense that neither Rutter nor Summerville have produced their best form in the final weeks of the season, nor have they turned up at Wembley, he has picked them in his team of the season.

Ahead of the play-offs, former Leeds man Prutton picked his Championship XI and both Summerville and Rutter were included alongside Tottenham loanee Joe Rodon, making his new claim a little odd.

But there’s no doubt that if Rutter and Summerville had continued their form in the final weeks of the season, things could have been different. Rutter has hinted that he will stay, Summerville appears to be leaving.

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