Former Leeds United star admits he still watches every game and fails to rule out a return

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There is, perhaps, one thing former Leeds United defender Charlie Cresswell would change about his new life in France with Toulouse.

As a proud northerner – a Preston-born powerhouse who spent 11 years in West Yorkshire before Toulouse secured the Leeds graduate’s services for around £4 million – France may be the culinary capital of Europe.

But what it offers in terms of freshness and flavour, it loses in the absence of Bisto.

Charlie Cresswell, speaking to the English media nearly a year into his spell in Ligue 1, cannot help but bemoan the lack of readily-available Yorkshire puddings. That certainly wasn’t an issue at Leeds United.

And one suspects, when the England Under-21 international was on the brink of the first-team at Elland Road, he did not expect to be importing gravy granules from over the Channel tunnel.

“I had to order gravy from Amazon,” he laughs.

Onto more serious matters, Cresswell cannot be more positive about how things have panned out for him in France. From making only one Championship start under Daniel Farke to closing in on 30 in a major European league.

Charlie Cresswell held his own against Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and PSG recently. Cresswell scored three goals in eight Ligue 1 matches recently, too.

Charlie Cresswell says leaving Leeds United for Toulouse was the right call

Only Paris Saint-Germain and Lille have conceded fewer goals than Toulouse’s 29.

And, with a top-half finish for the first time since 2013/14 beckoning, the former Millwall loanee has clearly been a colossal influence at both ends of the pitch.

“I have loved every minute of it so far. It has been a challenge but one I feel like I am embracing,” Cresswell smiles. “I bet [my leaving Leeds for Toulouse] seemed like a bit of a surprise but, last season, I didn’t play much. I had a lot of thinking time.

“They had a clear vision and a clear project and a plan for me, which excited me and I wanted to be part of it.”

Cresswell is not just a more experienced, mature football these days, but a better one too.

Only four Ligue 1 players average more clearances per game than his six; The youngster’s sky-scraping 6ft 3ins frame coming in very useful. But also boasting an 82 per cent pass completion rate compared to 70 per cent at Millwall – his only other campaign of regular first-team football – Cresswell feels he is benefitting from a more continental approach to football.

“[Playing abroad is great because of] the experience, the exposure. I think playing in a top-five league in Europe is a big deal for youngsters coming through because you get to test yourself against Europe’s best,” adds Cresswell, following in the footsteps of Jude Bellingham, Jadon Sancho, Fikayo Tomori, Conor Gallagher and fellow Ligue 1 regular Angel Gomes.

“Yeah, without a doubt [Toulouse have made me a better player]. Technically, I feel a lot more comfortable out there. It’s a different kind of football.

“In England, it’s very intense, physical. And I feel like, here, there is more focus on the technical and tactical side of things. So yeah, I am more composed on the ball and [I can now] figure out patterns of play.

“Good for my football brain.”

Cresswell focused on France but can’t rule out England return

Cresswell, who is now taking regular French lessons as he looks to separate his ‘évanouit’ from his ‘éblouit’, is keen to keep following his old employers from afar.

The Leeds academy graduate is also not ruling out a return to England at some point in the future, even if his focus remains firmly set on taking Toulouse into Europe.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LeedsLeeds	38	23	11	4	76	25	51	80
2	Sheff UtdSheffield Utd	38	25	7	6	53	28	25	80
3	BurnleyBurnley	38	21	15	2	52	11	41	78
4	SunderlandSunderland	38	19	12	7	55	37	18	69

“Obviously, I am a fan [of Leeds]. I still watch the games and the results come in, and I don’t think that will ever change,” Cresswell concludes. “Leeds gave me my start in my career. I don’t think I will ever lose that connection.”

The reporter then asked.

“What’s the long-term goal for you? Is it to to keep playing here to keep developing to maybe one day return to England and play in the Premier League?”

Cresswell replied.

“Yeah, but there’s no rush for me [to return to England]. I’m enjoying every minute.

“I don’t take anything for granted. Sat in tenth with Europe in our eye line, it’s exciting. I’ve still got a lot of improvement to do but we will see where that takes me.”