Exclusive:'I wanted more from Harry Wilson but Leeds United new-boy has talent and I can't wait for him to unleash it'

Leeds United legend Jermaine Beckford wants to see more from Harry Wilson but has backed the summer signing to ‘unleash’ his talent.

Wilson joined Leeds on a free transfer in the summer, 12 months after Elland Road chiefs failed in their attempts to prise him from Fulham. The Welshman called time on his spell in West London after a best-ever individual campaign, his 11 goals and eight assists enough for the Cottagers’ Player of the Season award.

But that form hasn’t immediately surfaced at Leeds, with Wilson yet to open his goalscoring account while one assist came in the Carabao Cup at Chelsea. On Sunday, the winger started only his second Premier League game for the Whites at Sunderland and flattered to deceive alongside fellow attacker Brenden Aaronson.

“I was watching the game and obviously we all know how good Wilson is,” Beckford exclusively told the YEP courtesy of FreeBets, home of the best UK betting sites. “We’ve seen him carry Fulham over the last couple of seasons and be special. He’s always been a special type of player.

“Brenden Aaronson, we know he’s in there because last season he was towards the top end of the charts for the most turnovers in the final third. So he can bring some of that energy and determination to win the ball back and then slide Dom through, or whatever it may be. But it was a difficult game for the boys to be involved in.

“I think on any other day, Daniel Farke would have been hoping to have somebody else in there alongside one of those two rather than throwing them both in. But look, it’s a point. We managed to keep a clean sheet. We created a couple of chances. I do want to see a little bit more from them though, especially Wilson, based on how good he was last season.”

Farke has regularly urged patience regarding Wilson, who joined Leeds off the back of five years playing under one manager at one club. Last season was the 29-year-old’s most productive in the top-flight but even that came with a couple of dry spells.

Wilson has only played the equivalent of just over two full Premier League games in terms of minutes, with the Welshman still learning Farke’s attacking patterns and defensive demands. Beckford believes it will take more time but has backed the summer arrival’s undoubted talent to shine through eventually.

“He’s learning the Leeds United way,” Beckford added. “He’s learning Leeds United’s DNA under Daniel Farke. It’s not going to be easy because he’s going against everything he learned while he was at Fulham.

“So he’s learning a new way of playing, a new tempo, more aggression, how to be a little bit more ruthless in possession, positional sense. He’s figuring that out a little bit more as well. At Fulham he had free rein to drift and go wherever he wanted, whereas now he’s a little bit more restricted to a specific area, specific blocks.

“But there’s no doubting the guy’s got talent. I’m looking forward to seeing him unleash that.”