Leeds United told they have an ‘excellent’ young star on the books at Elland Road, his attitude in training has caught the eye

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Leeds United’s senior side are pushing for promotion back to the Premier League but a youngster on the books at Elland Road is gunning for promotion in a different league altogether.

Five players left Leeds on loan in the summer in Jack Harrison, Rasmus Kristensen, Sonny Perkins, Darko Gyabi and Sam Greenwood. Harrison and Kristensen saw Victor Orta’s relegation clause remain active.

Perkins has impressed after a tricky start at boyhood club Leyton Orient in League One, scoring two goals in two games. Meanwhile, Gyabi and Greenwood are impressing on loan at Championship clubs this term.

Since then, three others have gone on loan. Joe Richards to South Shields, Cian Coleman to Buxton and Luca Thomas to York City, who currently sit in second place in the National League behind Forest Green.

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York boss Adam Hinshelwood praises Leeds gem Luca Thomas

Thomas sat joint-first in the Premier League 2 goalscoring rankings when Leeds gave the green light for the 20-year-old to leave Elland Road and join National League side York on a short-term loan last month.

Thomas then scored on his debut for York and earlier this week, Leeds confirmed that they had allowed York to extend the Thomas’ loan. York manager Hinshelwood heaped praise on him, to the York Press.

“I really like Luca, he’s a great lad first and foremost. He trains well, his finishing is excellent and is one of the best we have got at the club. I really like his attitude and he’s shown really great determination.”

What do Leeds do with Luca Thomas at the end of the season?

Thomas is clearly an incredibly talented striker and at PL2 level, one of the best around. But the issue with the former Man City youngster is that the chances of a senior breakthrough seem slim at the moment.

Joe Gelhardt is likely to leave Leeds at some point, and Graham Smyth thinks Patrick Bamford could leave next summer. But even if Leeds don’t get promoted, is promoting Thomas to the senior side a risk?

Thomas has only just made his senior debut at professional level in the National League, scoring once. Between now and the end of the season, Thomas has got to score regularly to tempt Leeds into a deal.

That is, given Thomas’ current deal expires next summer. Failure to do that and Thomas is simply playing to put himself in the shop window come the end of the current season, while on loan under Hinshelwood.