SIMON GRAYSON believes Wilfried Gnonto can provide the X-factor to keep Leeds in the Premier League.
The ex-Whites boss reckons Javi Gracia’s men face a crunch week in their survival bid with home matches against fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest tonight and Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Wilfried Gnonto saw his impressive season with Leeds result in a call-up for Italy
Chennaiyin celebrate with the trophy after the match against Bengaluru
Italy forward Gnonto, 19, is battling an ankle injury but has been a shining light in a tough campaign for the Elland Road outfit.
Grayson, Leeds boss between 2008-12, said: “I watched Gnonto recently against England and he has an X-factor to him. He’s had an impressive season.
“Hopefully the injury isn’t too serious. If he is available for Forest and Palace then people will be more than happy.
“I hope Leeds stay up. Gracia has come in, done a good job and has turned things around in and out of possession.
“This week is crucial with Forest and Palace – they are must not lose games. If they can win them both then that will be a massive boost and get them steering in the right direction.
“It won’t be easy. It’s so tight down at the bottom. It’s going to be more intriguing than the top of the league.”
Leeds fan Grayson started his career with the Yorkshire club as a player and won promotion back to the Championship as a manager in 2010.
The 53-year-old knows the fierce Elland Road crowd can be a huge plus in retaining their top-flight status but concedes nerves will play a part in the run-in.
Grayson added: “The crowd back the players to do well and it can really spur them on.
“But if the opposition scores first then it can get nervous and have a reverse effect.
“If they get off to a good start then the crowd will see them through.
“There’s nervousness around clubs now because of what’s at stake. Two big games like this can have a big impact.”
Grayson also played for managerless Leicester, who sacked boss Brendan Rodgers on Sunday, for five seasons and won the League Cup.
He said: “When Leicester looked like they were getting out of trouble they got more bad results. It’s not ideal because there’s unrest among the supporters but Brendan was restricted in recruitment because of finances.
“The ideal solution is both of them survive and three other teams go down.”
Grayson now manages in India, one of four English managers alongside Aidy Boothroyd, Des Buckingham and Stephen Constantine, and took Bengaluru to the Indian Super League final only to lose on penalties.
He watched England cricket star Jofra Archer play for Mumbai Indians against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday.
Simon Grayson took Bengaluru to the Indian Super League final in his first season
Grayson, who has another year on his deal, added: “I’ve really enjoyed it professionally and personally. It’s totally out of my comfort zone.
“I’ve been to the Taj Mahal but I’ve also seen the contrasting fortunes of the Indian people. “Some are wealthy and others are in slums, sleeping and begging on the streets. It makes you appreciate what you have.
“The traffic is horrendous and like wacky races. I was surprised it took six months until I saw an accident. I was in a rickshaw and a motorbike went past and clipped the front of it.
“It’s a life experience I never thought I’d be involved in.
“The standard of football is similar to the top of League One.
“My captain Sunil Chhetri is third in the list of active international goal scorers behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi with 85, scored in the play-off quarter-final against Kerala Blasters, chipping the goalkeeper from a quickly-taken free-kick.
“Sunil did nothing wrong but the opposition weren’t accepting it and their coach took his team off – they never came back even though there were 20-odd minutes left in extra-time. We were awarded the match by forfeit.
“It was an eye-opener and I was amazed that it happened in a professional game. I’d never seen it before.
“Sunil is an icon of Indian football and gets mobbed everywhere we go, the airports and the stadiums, for pictures. It’s unbelievable.
“He’s 38, fit, humble and gets applause at every away ground when his name is announced. Imagine that happening to Harry Kane at the Emirates!”
