Every young career has it’s ups and downs. The chance to experience the topsy-turvy nature of senior football is a big part of the reason why Leeds United opted to loan out one of their most exciting young talents.
And just because Daniel Farke handed Archie Gray such a central role in his Elland Road plans before that £35 million summer move to Tottenham Hotspur, that does not mean the same approach is going to be taken with every Leeds United academy graduate from here on in.
Farke played down comparisons between Gray and Charlie Crew despite the latter’s impressive pre-season performances.
With Gray very much an exception rather than the rule, Farke felt it would have been ‘unfair’ in the extreme to burden Crew with the expectation of taking his place.
The once-capped Wales international is still only 18, after all, while his only Championship appearance came late on during November’s 3-0 victory over Plymouth Argyle.
So when Doncaster Rovers came calling in the January transfer window, the Leeds bosses were aligned on the idea that a loan spell down the road in Yorkshire, at a League Two club competing for promotion, would be a good place for Charlie Crew to learn the sort of lessons that would stand the teenager in good stead years down the line.
Charlie Crew ‘stepped up’ as Leeds United loanee makes his mark at Doncaster
Crew, as was perhaps to be expected, has had good days and bad days during his first run of senior football.
Doncaster boss Grant McCann never had any doubt that the Leeds loanee is a ‘very exciting’ talent. But, arriving at the Keepmoat from the sterilised world of academy football, Crew has found unleashing that talent on a consistent basis relatively difficult.
Recently, the youngster has had more to smile about on international duty, meanwhile, than with his club side.
Crew excelled as Wales took on England at Under-19 level during the March break. But, back in selection for Doncaster after four matches out of McCann’s matchday squad, the Cardiff-born starlet appears well placed to attack the run-in with a renewed sense of vigour.
Crew made his first League Two appearance in over a month off the bench against Salford City in midweek. A performance which earned him a place back in the starting XI for the Easter Friday victory over Tranmere.
“When he came back from Wales, and Charlie won’t mind me saying this, he came back a bit sloppy and tired,” McCann told the Doncaster Free Press before that Tranmere clash. “He wasn’t at it in training and others were, and we’re at the stage of the season where we need people at it.
“He just looked a wee bit off it but he’s dedicated and a very good player. Over the last ten days, he’s certainly stepped up and the energy is there again.
“We see it every single day in training, hence why we involved him [at Salford]. He’s a really good footballer and he brings different attributes to the midfield.”
Promotion from League Two close as Crew sees the benefits of Doncaster stint
By his own admission, Charlie Crew is benefitting from a stint in Doncaster. With only three League Two matches remaining, Rovers are sitting second with their automatic promotion hopes now in their own hands.
“I’ve enjoyed every moment of it, to be fair,” Crew said recently. “Obviously, we started really well with four wins on the bounce, which was a nice start. I didn’t expect it to be like that, and it made me settle into the group.
“Even now, still enjoying it, still trying to improve every day.
“This is my first experience of men’s football, being around a squad. Three points every game meaning something, it’s a feeling I haven’t had before but it’s one that will definitely help me improve in the future.
“I feel like, as a player, I can adapt quickly to different tactics, things like this. Me coming down and playing League Two football, I feel like I’ve done that. I always felt like I could do it pretty quickly but maybe not after one game.”
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