SAIZ THE PRIZE IF HE CAN CURB HIS TEMPER

I WAS at Craven Cottage on Tuesday to watch Fulham beat Leeds and extend their unbeaten run to 18 matches.

The Londoners were good value for their win, but it was a visiting player that also got me thinking as I wandered along the Thames at fulltime.

Samuel Saiz came to life in the second half. If it wasn’t for his teammates’ wasteful finishing, his guile would have meant a couple more assists to add to his CV.

His best moment was a deft cross with the outside of his boot that was somehow headed over by the substitute JayRoy Grot.

There’s no doubt the player has stacks of talent. He can execute a pass and his slaloming runs are a joy to watch.

However, it’s his discipline that has let him down on more than one occasion during his maiden season in England.

In fact, his previous manager, Thomas Christiansen, is convinced the Spaniard’s six-game absence (for spitting in the FA Cup defeat at Newport) through suspension was the main reason he lost his job at Elland Road.

His temper reared its ugly head again at Fulham. More than once he reacted to tackles with some finger-wagging towards the opposition or the officials.

I’ve seen him enough this season to suggest it’s not going to go away. It’s part of his character and might be a reason why, at 27, he’s not been playing at a higher level.

Paul Heckingbottom is the latest manager tasked with trying to tame his temper and I’ll be interested to see if he can have a positive impact on the player in the games that remain. Unquestionably, Saiz has the ability to play in the Premier League and, despite his flaws, I wouldn’t be surprised if a promoted club tries to prise him away from West Yorkshire.