Neil Redfearn was left in awe of the performance from one of Leeds United’s latest signings, Manor Solomon, during their 2-0 victory over Hull City.
Leeds, heading into the international break with back-to-back wins, secured three crucial points at Elland Road, with goals from Mateo Joseph and Joel Piroe.
The match saw Leeds control proceedings for much of the 90 minutes, despite Hull City threatening occasionally on the break. Leeds’ dominance, however, required patience before finally breaking through in the 63rd minute.
It was Joseph who opened the scoring, steering home a delightful cross from debutant Manor Solomon. This marked Joseph’s first goal of the season, a moment that will undoubtedly boost his confidence moving forward.
Joel Piroe, introduced as a substitute, added the second goal late on to seal the win. Piroe’s finish on the counter-attack came amid speculation surrounding his future, with reports suggesting he was part of a potential transfer deal involving Gustavo Hamer.
Despite the distractions, Piroe delivered when it mattered, ensuring Leeds would head into the break with momentum.
Neil Redfearn, speaking on BBC Radio Leeds after the match, highlighted Manor Solomon’s impact, noting how quickly the Israeli winger showed his quality.
Daniel Farke had included three of his four new signings in the squad for the clash at Elland Road, with Solomon earning a starting spot in place of the absent Dan James. Largie Ramazani and Ao Tanaka, the other new arrivals, were introduced as second-half substitutes.
It didn’t take long for Solomon to make his mark. From the outset, he looked sharp, his assist for Joseph’s goal capping an impressive full debut. Redfearn was full of praise for Solomon, suggesting that his quality is a cut above what is typically seen in the Championship.
“We have actually seen the majority of the new signings today,” Redfearn remarked.
“I thought Manor Solomon was probably the man of the match, to be honest. He’s got a quality that is better than this level, you can obviously see that. Initially, in the first 20 minutes, it was like tackling smoke. He was unplayable at times. All those messages are good messages.”
Another noteworthy aspect of the match was the leadership displayed by Leeds’ captain, Ethan Ampadu. Since being appointed as the club’s full-time captain, Ampadu has taken his role seriously, both on and off the pitch.
Following Leeds’ win over Sheffield Wednesday, Ampadu was seen encouraging Brenden Aaronson to acknowledge the away supporters.
After the Hull City match, Ampadu repeated this gesture, pushing the three new signings—Tanaka, Solomon, and Ramazani—toward the South Stand to partake in the customary wave to the crowd after a win.
While Tanaka and Ramazani both made positive impressions off the bench, it was Solomon who stood out and deserved the warm reception from the Elland Road faithful.
Solomon’s performance has given Leeds fans plenty of reasons to be optimistic as they look forward to the rest of the season. If his debut is any indication, Solomon could prove to be a key player in Leeds’ push for promotion.