Stuart McKinstry has left Leeds United on a free transfer this summer after the club published its retained list earlier this month – and Ben Parker has told LS11 that it did not come as a surprise to see the Scottish ace leave on a free.
McKinstry, 20, is about to see his contract at Leeds expire at the end of the month. The retained list confirmed that the winger, who played twice for the senior side under Marcelo Bielsa, will not have his contract renewed at Leeds.
The Scotland U21 winger spent the 2022-23 campaign on loan at boyhood club Motherwell, on loan. It comes after having joined Leeds in the summer of 2019 from the Scottish Premiership side. He played 25 times last season.
In that time, he had a hand in six goals – scoring four, including a free-kick against Rangers during a 2-1 loss at Fir Park. But he lost his place towards the end of the season, managing two sub outings in the last 14 league games.
That might have contributed to Leeds making the decision not to renew the winger’s contract following his loan at Motherwell. Parker, who covers the club’s U21 side for LUTV, told LS11 that it was no surprise to see him depart.
“Not really (a surprise he has left). He’s been at Motherwell, so it always looked like it would go that way with Stuart. Wish him well, great lad. He will have a career, not sure what level but he will definitely have a career in the game.”
Parker says it is no surprise to see McKinstry leave Leeds United on a free
McKinstry is clearly a talent and had he been given more game time at Motherwell, his numbers will have been a bit better. Decent for the 21’s, a Scotland U21 star. There is potential there, and relegation might have actually helped.
Especially, with Willy Gnonto, Jack Harrison and Luis Sinisterra all expected to leave the club this summer. But, in the likelihood that the club look to make signings out wide, it was probably for the best that McKinstry will leave.
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