Leeds United winger attracts criticism as ex-Everton man insists he is ‘not effective enough’

Everton’s on-loan Leeds United winger Jack Harrison has attracted criticism from former Premier League midfielder Michael Ball.

Harrison was one of many players that departed Leeds in the summer after the team was demoted to the Championship. Despite being one of the team’s better players during their Premier League downfall, he was unable to stop the Whites from dropping to the second division.

Under Sean Dyche, he made his loan move to Everton during the summer transfer window and has since made 17 league appearances for the Toffees.

However, former Everton midfielder Ball has highlighted where Harrison needs to improve.

After Everton’s draw with Tottenham Hotspur, Ball wrote for the Liverpool Echo, stating: “Harrison is always checking his shoulder, trying to find where the opposition are trying to pass to.” That’s okay when everyone is in place, but when things are so unpredictable, you have to give it your all.

“I’m confident Harrison will have very few turnovers, but I’d like to see the data. Although he appears active and has an excellent work ethic, he is ineffective and wastes too much energy by being overly passive and introspective.

“In those moments in which you want him to be sharp and put the pressure on, he doesn’t always get there. Lewis Dobbin came on and did one press with intent and won the ball.

“You must give it your all since Harrison was being picked off way too frequently. He must have sprinted fifty yards since he was trying to close down with a lot of 10-yard sprints here and there, but it takes a certain amount of footballing knowledge to figure out when to give up and commit totally.

Harrison’s Elland Road future may depend on whether Leeds win the Championship this season, although Everton does not have the option to make his loan agreement permanent.

He made his Leeds debut on loan in 2018 and has since played 206 games for the Whites. He has contributed 32 assists and 34 goals in those games.