Leeds United’s Thorp Arch talent is renowned for producing numerous amounts of talent, time after time. Even this season, there have been two new debutants for Daniel Farke’s senior side.
Charlie Crew and Sam Chambers both made their debuts for Leeds in the 3-0 win over Plymouth last month. But who could be next? We consider five other youngsters shining in Scott Gardiner’s U21 side.
Five academy stars who could win promotion to Leeds side
5. Alfie Cresswell
The versatile midfielder, and younger brother of Charlie Cresswell who has since left for France with Ligue 1 side Toulouse, is already following in his brother’s footsteps by captaining Gardiner’s Under-21 side.
Cresswell scored a winner at Nottingham Forest last month, having played on both sides of the defence, midfield and even at centre-back. This talented 17-year-old has a real chance of a future breakthrough.
4. Cian Coleman
Coleman has been a regular for a number of years in the U21 side. But more recently, the Ireland U19 international has been loaned to National League North side Buxton, where he is playing senior football.
In six games, Coleman has six goals and assists. Coleman won October’s Player of the Month award at Buxton, and Coleman even scored a hat-trick on the weekend. Coleman will be impressing onlookers.
3. Luca Thomas
The striker was on fire for Leeds before going on loan to York last month. The former Man City striker had netted six goals in five Premier League 2 games or the 21’s, before being allowed to go on loan.
He has joined National League side York City, where Thomas scored on his debut and has continued to get game time with Adam Hinshelwood’s side. His goalscoring will have caught Daniel Farke’s eye.
2. Rhys Chadwick
Leeds are lacking competition for Brenden Aaronson in the senior side, but in the 21’s, Leeds boast a 17-year-old who is on fire. Rhys Chadwick has had a hand in 13 goals in 13 games for Gardiner’s men.
Still a tender 17, there is plenty of time on Chadwick’s side but those kinds of numbers will not have gone unnoticed by Farke. Indeed, it would be no surprise if Chadwick is soon seen in senior Leeds training.
1. James Debayo
The likeliest of them all though, is centre-back James Debayo. Debayo was of six youngsters to go to Germany in pre-season, and has featured on the Leeds bench a handful of times this season already.
But he is yet to make his Leeds debut. However, if there is an injury at senior level, then Debayo will find himself warming the Elland Road bench regularly and who knows, could be given a Leeds debut soon.
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