Rodrigo scores twice on injury return as Leeds United Under-23s topple Wolves in Premier League 2

Leeds United forward Rodrigo in action at Elland Road. Pic: Bruce Rollinson

Rodrigo scored a brace on his return from injury in Leeds United Under-23s' 2-0 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday afternoon.

The Whites travelled to face third-placed Wolves in Premier League 2 action looking to extend the gap at the top of the second division.

Mark Jackson handed a start to Rodrigo as he made a comeback from a groin issue while long-term absentee Gaetano Berardi picked up more minutes.

There was a spot on the bench for winger Ian Poveda and Sam Greenwood who both also returned as striker Joe Gelhardt was given the afternoon off.

It took Leeds just six minutes to open the scoring after the visitors produced a well-worked free-kick from the left hand side.

Stuart McKinstry opted to play a low ball to the edge of the area and Rodrigo was left unmarked to sweep a shot home into the far corner of the net.

United pushed on and had a second goal on the 15 minute mark.

Charlie Allen won the ball in the opposition half and played a perfectly-timed pass to striker Max Dean who saw his legs clipped by a retreating Wolves defender.

Rodrigo stepped up and made no mistake from the penalty spot with an emphatic finish that left goalkeeper Louie Moulden no chance.

The Spain international almost had a hat-trick on the stroke of half-time but saw a cushioned header cleared off the line twice in quick succession.

United's appeals for a goal fell on deaf ears as Wolves scrambled the ball away during the follow up.

It was to be the 29-year-old's last involvement as Greenwood stepped off the bench with Poveda and Oliver Casey replacing Berardi and Bobby Kamwa at the interval.

The Whites were again the team in control after the break and stopper Elia Caprile was rarely called into action on a quiet afternoon.

Greenwood struck the bar late on from a free-kick in what was the closest effort of the second period but the damage had already been done in the opening half.

With the victory Leeds extended their gap at the top of the table to an impressive 13 points and remain well in control of the PL2 promotion race.

Leeds United Under-23s: Caprile, Drameh, McCarron, Kenneh, Cresswell, Berardi (Casey 45), McKinstry, Allen, Dean, Rodrigo (Greenwood 45), Kamwa (Poveda 45). Subs not used: Van den Heuvel, Gibbon.