'˜Genuine' Alioski praised by Leeds United boss Heckingbottom after Pride Park star turn
![ON TARGET: Leeds United's Ezgjan Alioski celebrates scoring Leeds' second goal at Pride Park. Picture: Tony Johnson.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/legacy_ash_97447761.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65&enable=upscale)
![ON TARGET: Leeds United's Ezgjan Alioski celebrates scoring Leeds' second goal at Pride Park. Picture: Tony Johnson.](/img/placeholder.png)
Alioski came off the bench to hand Leeds a 2-1 advantage with 10 minutes to go, his first strike in 13 games.
The Macedonia international had failed to find the net since November 25, when he scored against a Barnsley side managed by Heckingbottom, and he has struggled for form through the winter amid a severe downturn in United’s results.
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Hide AdHeckingbottom fielded him in his first game as head coach, a 2-1 defeat at Sheffield United, but dropped him immediately on the back of a poor display.
Alioski was among the substitutes at Pride Park last night but was thrown on in the second half and put Leeds on course for a badly-needed Championship win with an 80th-minute header. Derby, however, snatched a 2-2 draw with an injury-time goal from Kasey Palmer.
Heckingbottom credited Alioski for his performance, saying: “I’m pleased for him. He’s another player who’s so genuine.
![TIMELY INTERVENTION: Ezgjan Alioski celebrates scoring Leeds' second goal at Pride Park with his team-mates. Picture: Tony Johnson.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/legacy_ash_97447762.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65)
![TIMELY INTERVENTION: Ezgjan Alioski celebrates scoring Leeds' second goal at Pride Park with his team-mates. Picture: Tony Johnson.](/img/placeholder.png)
“He wants to play every minute of every game, he wants to give you everything and probably beats himself up a bit, puts pressure on himself and judges himself too harshly.
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Hide Ad“A couple of his defensive positions were superb. One, he picked up a loose ball from Derby and broke and another one, two minutes later, Derby looked in a dangerous position and he was on the edge of the box, restricting Bradley Johnson to a shot. That’s first class and that’s from a wide player.
“They’re the positions I wanted him to take up and they’re the things I want to see over and over again.”