‘Not phased at all’: Sam Byram blown away by what one Leeds player is achieving this season

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Sam Byram says he doesn’t feel as though he’s had to help nurture Archie Gray as he is ‘taking everything in his stride’ at Leeds United.

Byram was speaking on the latest episode of the Official Leeds United Podcast, where he was asked about whether he has felt a responsibility to help Gray since coming back to the club.

After leaving Elland Road all the way back in January 2016, Byram was handed a one-year-deal to return to Leeds in the summer and reunite with Daniel Farke.

Byram, of course, spent three years in the first team as a youngster at Leeds having progressed through the academy like his current teammate Gray.

Despite being just 17, Gray has been a mainstay in Farke’s starting XI this season, starting nine of Leeds’ 11 league matches, including out of position at right-back in the win over Bristol City on Saturday.

Byram says Gray is ‘not phased’ by anything

Byram says that while he will always be there to put an arm round his shoulder if he needs it, so far he has not had to because Gray is ‘not phased at all by playing for Leeds’.

He said: “I feel like he’s very mature for his age. He can be quite childish which is obviously normal for a 17-year-old and we always have a laugh about him being an idiot all the time. But I feel like he’s not phased at all by playing for Leeds, one of the biggest clubs in England, sold out stadium, it just doesn’t phase him.

“If I could see that side was maybe getting on top of him, or he was struggling, definitely I would be there to put an arm around him and help him out but I feel like he doesn’t need it. He’s a great talent and still young, but I think we’ve got a great group.

“Not just the senior players but even the ones that are mid-twenties are all very mature as well and he’s got a lot of players who are there for him if he needs someone to lean on. But like I said, for his age, he’s dead mature and taking everything in his stride at the minute.”

Byram a great role model for Gray

Byram will undoubtedly be someone Gray looks up to at Leeds given he has been in the same situation in his career, breaking through into the first team as a teenager.

But like Byram said, it is clear to see Gray is not ‘phased’ by playing for a club like Leeds in the Championship, as he knows he is more than good enough to be at this level.

That said, it is equally good to hear that Byram, as well as the likes of Liam Cooper and Luke Ayling, are there in the dressing room for players like Gray.