Leeds United 20-year-old has four goals and assists in five games for U21s after return from long-term injury

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Leeds United U21s rounded off the calendar year of 2024 with a Premier League Cup tie at Stockport County on Tuesday night.

The Young Whites were beaten 4-2 by Stockport County Reserves to leave them sat third in a group that also consists of Birmingham City and Charlton Athletic.

The result means Leeds have accumulated just four points from their four matches in the tournament so far, having beaten Stockport 3-1 in the return fixture back in October.

It is an extremely tight group with Leeds and Birmingham both sat on four, Charlton just ahead on five, and Stockport at the top with six.

However, both the Blues and Charlton do have a game in hand, meaning Leeds probably need to win both of their last two to stand a chance of finishing top and progressing to the knockout stages.

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Joe Snowdon ends 2024 in fine form for Leeds U21s

Rhys Chadwick has been winning a lot of the headlines for Leeds U21s this season, and rightly so considering his recent run of goals and assists from attacking midfield.

However, it was the night for others to step up at Stockport, even if the game did end in defeat after Leeds found themselves 2-1 ahead.

Following an own goal from Leeds ‘keeper Rory Mahady, recent senior debutant Sam Chambers found an equaliser just on the stroke of half-time.

Midfielder Joe Snowdon then put Leeds in front just three minutes after the break, continuing his fine run of form since returning to action in November.

Snowdon missed almost all of pre-season and the opening three months of the campaign due to injury but has really hit the ground running with two goals and two assists in his first five matches back.

Unfortunately his goal wasn’t enough to see Leeds go onto win the game, as three quickfire goals from the hosts put the game beyond their reach.

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What Snowdon recently said about return for Leeds

Snowdon has now played in matches against Gateshead, Fulham U21s, Halifax Town, Blackburn Rovers U21s and Stockport Reserves since coming back.

Given he is now 20, Snowdon is the age where he needs to start playing regular senior football, but that group of fixtures has certainly provided him with a good mix of opposition.

Snowdon conducted an interview with leedsunited.com after the penalty shootout win over Halifax earlier this month, in which he was asked about his return from injury.

He said: “Obviously, it was a frustrating time right at the start of the season and in pre-season, just getting my feet going and to pick up an injury was frustrating.

“But I am back now, two full 90s in a couple of days, so hopefully I can build on from now and keep progressing.”