Ben Parker has insisted that Darko Gyabi is too good for the under-21s at Leeds United, claiming that this season has been too easy for the summer signing.
Parker was speaking on the LS11 Podcast about the gulf between the level at Premier League 2 and the first-team, as Sam Allardyce’s side continue to fight for their place at English football’s top table.
Of course, it has been a miserable season, with many of the first-team stars not performing. And with that, there have been calls for some of the younger players to get a chance.
One of the real problem areas has been in the middle of the park, particularly since Tyler Adams sustained his season-ending injury.
Darko Gyabi too good for Leeds’ under-21s
One of the players who appears to be knocking on the door is definitely Darko Gyabi. The 19-year-old has had a taste of first-team football since his move from Manchester City.
He was arguably the shining light in an awful first-half at Cardiff in the FA Cup. And he has definitely shown glimpses of his potential with the senior side.
Parker has explained that it is too much to ask to expect the teenager to make an impact at such a crucial time in the season. But he did outline how impressed he has been by Gyabi while watching the under-21s this season.
“Let’s use Darko Gyabi for example. So if you want to put Gyabi in midfield, everybody was raving about him the other night, rightly so,” he told LS11.
“All season, at 21s, it’s been too easy for him, he’s too good for that level. But for him to start for a team who are fighting relegation at the bottom when the pressure’s on the most, it’s a lot to ask for a young guy.”
It is horrible to say but Gyabi probably would be one of the players who would benefit from Leeds getting relegated. Leeds have a cluster of really talented youngsters who could thrive if they could get the chance to play regularly.
Of course, Leeds – if they do go down – cannot simply rely on the youngsters to bring them back up. That first-half at Cardiff highlighted that any complacency will be punished.
But Gyabi is certainly someone with a very bright future ahead. It appears to be a matter of time before he is getting the chance to line up regularly in the Leeds midfield.