Why Rotherham United boss Matt Taylor knew a dip in form for talented Leeds United loanee Leo Hjelde was inevitable

MATT Taylor knew that among many good days for Leo Hjelde there would also be a bad one.

The Leeds United teenager has made a real mark on Rotherham United since his January loan switch from the Premier League.

But he fell below his usual level of performance at Birmingham City last weekend, something his manager at the Millers had predicted would happen to a talent so young.

Speaking earlier this month, Taylor said: “Leo will find it difficult between now and the end of the season. He won’t go without injury or his form dipping.

“He’s not played games of this intensity before. Games in this division will expose him. Players progress the most that way. He’s bright enough to learn from what happens.”

The next chance to impress for the Norwegian left-back, who was also not at his best against Preston North End on Tuesday, arrives this Saturday at home to Cardiff City and Taylor has no doubt that the former Celtic prospect will quickly come good again.

“He doesn’t look like a 19-year-old and he doesn’t act like a 19-year-old, hence why we signed him,” the boss said. “We felt there was a maturity there.

“He has a personality we like. He doesn’t fear failure. He has that Scandinavian confidence.He doesn’t fear what’s coming at him, and that’s an incredible thing to have in football, especially in young players.”

Hjelde is the youngest Norwegian ever to appear in the English top flight but has been used sparingly so far by Leeds, who paid Celtic a seven-figure fee for his services.

Before his Rotherham move his only regular senior action had been a loan spell in Scotland with Ross County.

“Leo needs to gain as much experience as he can with us,” Taylor said. “He’s got to play first-team football from this point on, and I don’t mean any disrespect to under-21s or under-23s football or just training with a good team.

You don’t get many 19-year-olds who just jump into the Championship and play like he has.”

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LOAN ace Conor Coventry is loving life with Rotherham United so much that he hasn’t ruled out playing for the Millers again next season.

The midfielder, who turns 23 later this month, has started every match since his January move from Premier League West Ham United and has become a key part of Matt Taylor’s Championship side.

He has another year left on his Hammers deal but a return to AESSEAL New York Stadium might appeal if he can’t force his way into their team next term and the Millers manage to retain their Championship status.

“I’m enjoying my time here and I feel part of the club,” he said. “Let’s see what happens at the end of the season.”

Taylor has already spoken of his admiration for the London-born Republic of Ireland under-21 international and would like to work with him again in the future.

Coventry managed to feature against Birmingham City last Saturday and Preston North End on Tuesday even though he’s been laid low by tonsillitis.

He stayed away from the club’s Roundwood base in the early part of last week and was prescribed a course of antibiotics.

Now fully recovered, he is hoping for more action at home to Cardiff City on Saturday.

Off the field, things are also going well for the player. He’s finally moved out of the hotel that had been his home for several weeks and is renting a property in Sheffield.

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One to watch

Conor Wickham joined Cardiff in the January transfer window at the end of his short-term deal at League One Forest Green Rovers. The striker has spent much of his career in the Premier League with Sunderland and Crystal Palace but injuries have often kept him on the sidelines. The 29-year-old hadn’t opened his Bluebirds account in four outings.

Form guide

Millers: LWDWLL

Cardiff: WWLWLD

Cardiff beat Bristol City 2-0 at home before a 2-0 reverse at Preston North End on Saturday and a 1-1 draw on their own soil on Wednesday against West Bromwich Albion.

Last time out

The injury-hit Millers played poorly in South Wales and were beaten 1-0 by a superb second-half strike by Aston Villa loanee Jayden Philogene.

Recent meetings

May 8, 2021, Championship:

Cardiff 1 Millers 0

Feb 9, 2021, Championship:

Millers 1 (Matt Crooks) Cardiff 2

Feb 18, 2017, Championship:

Cardiff 5 Millers 0

Sep 24, 2016, Championship:

Millers 1 (Izzy Brown) Cardiff 2

Jan 23, 2016, Championship:

Cardiff 2 Millers 2 (Joe Newell, Anthony Pilkington og)

Sep 19, 2015, Championship:

Millers 2 ( Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe pen, Matt Connolly og) Cardiff 1

Mar 3, 2015, Championship:

Millers 1 (Danny Ward), Cardiff 3

Dec 6, 2014, Championship:

Cardiff 0 Millers 0

In 53 contests between the clubs since 1921, Rotherham have 23 wins to Cardiff’s 16.

Rival boss

The Bluebirds turned to Sabri Lamouchi in late January when they sacked Mark Hudson who had spent just four months in charge. Their form has picked up under the 51-year-old Frenchman who has also managed Rennes and Nottingham Forest whom he almost led to the Championship play-offs in 2020. Lamouchi was a midfielder in his playing days and his clubs include Monaco, Parma and Inter Milan.

Man in the middle

Oliver Langford, who is in his 13th season as an EFL referee, took charge of the Millers’ 3-0 loss and 3-0 defeat at Blackburn Rovers and 1-0 loss at Cardiff earlier in the campaign. The West Midlands official has shown 94 yellow cards and one red in 24 matches this term.

The odds

The bookmakers can’t separate the Millers and the Bluebirds, offering them both at 13/8 to win. The draw is 2/1.

Millers

1-0: 13/2

2-0: 10/1

2-1: 9/1

3-0: 22/1

3-1: 18/1

3-2: 30/1

4-0: 75/1

4-1: 60/1

4-2: 100/1

Draw

0-0: 13/2

1-1: 9/2

2-2: 12/1

3-3: 66/1

4-4: 200/1

Cardiff

1-0: 7/1

2-0: 11/1

2-1: 9/1

3-0: 22/1

3-1: 19/1

3-2: 33/1

4-0: 75/1

4-1: 66/1

4-2: 90/1