Why Leeds United winger Raphinha has the world at his feet at Elland Road - Dominic Matteo

It's been a strong few weeks for Leeds United winger Raphinha - who has really shown what he is all about since his arrival last summer.

The way he plays and with the attitude he has I'm convinced with the right path he could get to the top of football and I don't say that lightly - I'm not usually one for making huge predictions.

He's only 17 games into his Leeds career but he looks like he has got a bit of everything - he's quick, strong, uses his body shape well and has goals in him.

It's also the other side of his game as well. He tracks back, recovers and that's just as important to this Leeds team as his attributes in the final third.

No-one knew much about him a few months back and the next thing you know we're all thinking he could be the real deal. He's got the full package. Stade Rennes must be kicking themselves that they let him go for just £17m.

Can he work on things? Yes. Of course. But once he starts to get that consistency into his game then who knows where it will stop. He's only 24 and already looks like he's acclimatised to English football and he's growing with each passing match.

I used to love playing with teammates who had freedom in their game and that's exactly what he gets under Marcelo Bielsa. Raphinha can go one-on-one with anyone at the moment and he'll get the better of them - you only have to ask Gary Cahill about that!

As a defender he will be an absolute nightmare to deal with and I came up against enough of them throughout my career.

Luis Figo at Real Madrid and Thierry Henry at Arsenal jump out and I even had to deal with a really young Cristiano Ronaldo against Manchester United during my time with Blackburn Rovers.

It's a fairly old school attitude but if I was ever up against a skilful and tricky player it was the case of hitting them early and always trying to get to the ball as it arrives at their feet.

Anything you can do to unsettle them and not let them have time or space was absolutely crucial - positional sense was the most important thing for that.

If you can get that early on in your career then you've got half a chance. I was never the quickest but because I grasped that side of the game it gave me a battling hope against those game changers, which is what Raphinha is slowly turning into.

Once a player of that ilk beats you and starts well in a game then you can forget about it, you're in for a tough day because the confidence is up and they're throwing everything at you.

Top players almost feel weakness and smell it out and Raphinha seems to have that in his locker. He really has the world at his feet with Leeds.

It was a really professional performance against Crystal Palace on Monday, probably the most in that sense since Leeds returned to the Premier League.

The team at the moment reminds me of the one I played in myself - free flowing in attack and playing in what we all deem as the 'right way'.

I just wish the fans were inside Elland Road to experience it all right now because it would really push us on again but we're in such a good spot at the minute.

You could go through the whole squad right now and pick them out for praise. The attitude they have and the performances they're putting in just epitomises how exciting it is to be watching this team at the moment.

They all know their jobs inside out - Kalvin Phillips is the prime example of that. It can't be overlooked at how well Leeds have done this season. Even some of the pundits are giving the praise out.

The likes of Jamie Carragher, Gary Neville, Roy Keane and the like - these aren't people who give compliments easily. You only have to look at their careers to see what they achieved and the high standards they set.

All the praise is fully deserved, so who cares if outsiders want to moan about it - it's the right time to give credit where it is due. All these doubters who said Leeds couldn't do it are being proven wrong week in and week out.

It does feel like there's a bit of a fear factor creeping in with this side. There aren't many teams who look at Leeds and want to play them and that's because of the intensity we play at. They know they have to match that from the first minute.

The biggest compliment you can pay to the current crop if that you feel like they all understand what it means to represent the club in the Premier League.

There have been plenty of teams in the past who haven't known that and they've gone through the motions but Bielsa has gathered a perfect group who are fearless.

Dominic Matteo's column, in association with Data Facilities