This article is part of Football FanCast’s In The Pipeline series, which takes a look at some of the most promising young talent either linked with clubs or emerging from their academies…
Leeds United’s U23 side could prove to be an absolute goldmine of untapped potential.
Indeed, the Whites’ youth side have shown themselves to be one of the best young outfits in the country by winning the PDL National title last season, but we’ve not seen too many stars from that side make the transition to the first-team.
However, last weekend we saw one young academy prospect make his senior debut as Oliver Casey came on as a late substitute against Huddersfield Town.
Ahead of Leeds’ next game against Hull, Marcelo Bielsa revealed that there are a few other players in a similar boat to Casey, including two previously unseen youngsters.
“He’s a young player looking for space like Davis, Struijk, Hosannah. They are players working with the team for a while, as Clarke, Shackleton were before. They achieve to add to the group.” Bielsa said.
We’re all now aware of Leif Davis after his lightning performances this season saw him compared to Gareth Bale, but we’re yet to see Bryce Hosannah play a senior match.
Hosannah is naturally a right-back, so he could have a tough time getting an opportunity ahead of the likes of Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas, but he’s immensely talented, and this ability was apparent from a very young age.
His former football coach from his school days said: “Bryce is a very talented footballer, you could see his potential whilst he was working his way through the year groups and often playing for the year above.”
Those types of comments certainly bode well for the 20-year-old as he seems to have the talent necessary to be a decent player, and if the physicality and footballing IQ can be coached into him, United may have a real player on their hands.
Struijk is another defensive option for Leeds, and it seems as if he’s even closer to becoming a first-team regular after making his debut against Hull.
Noel Whelan has stated that Marcelo Bielsa has big plans for the youngster.
“With the inevitable injuries and suspensions over the winter months, I would expect to see Struijk getting a go at some point. It seems Bielsa has big plans for him,” Whelan said.
It seems inevitable that both of these men will be getting a chance in the coming months, and with people in football speaking so highly of them they could be the next emerging stars coming out of Elland Road.
Meanwhile, one Leeds man has openly criticised a Championship referee on social media.
