Marcelo Bielsa let him leave Leeds United as a teenager, now he’s the top scorer in Scotland with 11 goals in 22

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Leeds United have a new gem on their hands in Sam Chambers. But one the club let go a few years back is really starting to flourish.

Leeds United’s FA Cup defeat against Millwall last weekend harboured few positives. But the performance of academy gem Sam Chambers was the big positive, if not the only positive on the day.

The 17-year-old started on the right wing and looked sharp throughout. Daniel Farke sung his praises of Chambers after the game and we could now see the teenager featuring more heavily in the final 14 games of the season.

As Chambers looks to make his mark at Elland Road, a youngster who was once on the books in West Yorkshire is starting to make his mark too. But he’s not doing it in England. Instead, he’s the leading scorer in the Scottish Premiership.

Leeds United fans may well recall his name, which is Sam Dalby.

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Sam Dalby is firing for Dundee United in 2024/25

Leeds United snapped up Dalby from Leyton Orient in January 2018. The Whites paid an undisclosed fee for the teen striker who was turning heads in the National League with the O’s. But he’d leave Elland Road after just one season.

Watford signed Dalby in January 2019. From there he’d spend time on loan with Woking and Stockport County before joining Southend United on a permanent deal in 2021, proving prolific.

Wrexham snapped up the now 25-year-old in 2022, but it’s this season on loan at Dundee United where the frontman has excelled. Dalby has 11 goals in 22 Scottish top flight games this season, making him the highest scorer in the league.

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A current Leeds United man could endure a similar fate as Sam Dalby

Oftentimes, players boast potential at a young age but don’t blossom for several years. That seems to be the case with Dalby who’s been at the heights of Leeds and dropped right back down, before working his way back up.

And his story may prove to be similar to Joe Gelhardt’s. The striker left Leeds to join Hull City on loan in January where he’s since scored one goal in five Championship outings for the Tigers.

Likely to leave on a permanent deal in the summer, Gelhardt could still go on to have a bright career. But right now he’s not someone who Leeds can really call upon for goals. Nor was Dalby when Marcelo Bielsa let him go in 2019.