Lew Bate has taken to Twitter to reveal his delight at making a return to the Leeds United fold, pulling on the Whites jersey again on Wednesday against Manchester United – and he could emerge as a surprise cog in Daniel Farke’s XI.
Bate, 20, went on loan to League One side Oxford United last season after breaking into the senior side during the first few months under Jesse Marsch, playing four times. He clocked up 35 outings for Oxford before a hand injury.
In that time, he earned rave reviews for his performances at Oxford. Karl Robinson, who worked as Sam Allardyce’s assistant boss after signing Bate while still in charge at Oxford, said he is one of the best players he has coached.
So, after a successful year at Oxford, he returns to Leeds – who have been relegated. Bate would have been eyed for a Championship loan had Leeds stayed up. Now, he has a chance of returning to the fold udner Daniel Farke.
Bate delighted at Leeds return, could be Leeds surprise under Farke
Leeds are lacking in midfield. Tyler Adams and Marc Roca are likely to follow Weston McKennie and Adam Forshaw in leaving the club. That leaves Leeds with just Archie Gray and Darko Gyabi, while Bate returns from a loan spell.
It is unclear what Farke will do with Jamie Shackleton, who played alongside Gyabi from the off in Oslo. Then, Bate and Gray come on at half-time. The £1.5m man impressed, threading a lovely pass to set Patrick Bamford through.
That kind of ball-playing, tenacious, deep-lying playmaker will be essential to the way Farke wants us to play next season. Instead of going out and trying to sign a new player in that role, perhaps Leeds already have him in Bate.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
