Former Leeds United forward Noel Whelan has criticised the duo of Jack Harrison, on loan from Manchester City, and Lewis Baker, on loan from Chelsea, after the Whites’ FA Cup exit at the hands of QPR.
Leeds were beaten 2-1 by QPR on Sunday as head coach Marcelo Bielsa named a much-changed starting line-up.
Baker was handed a rare start in midfield, while Harrison was asked to play up front as the Argentine decided to rest some of his first team stars for the clash against Derby County on Friday.
Leeds created openings, but Bailey Peacock-Farrell was the busier of the two goalkeepers.
Harrison and Baker are currently at Leeds on loan from Manchester City and Chelsea respectively, and Whelan feels the duo’s performance on Sunday showed why they have not been able to make an impact at their respective parent clubs.
“They are highlighted because they are from Premier League clubs and people rate them very, very highly”, Whelan said on BBC Radio Leeds after the loss.
“If you can't do it at this level with this team that's top of the league at the minute then you've got to give us something, show us something, why are you here?
“It just shows me why you're not playing at Man City, not playing at Chelsea.
“It shows me you can't break into a Championship side."
And Whelan admits he is puzzled at why Baker and Harrison are at Elland Road, taking up space on the wage bill.
"So why do we have these players?
"We're paying them good money.”
Leeds will hope to put the FA Cup exit behind them and pick up their first win of 2019 when they face Derby in their next game.
