Leeds United trio overlooked as youngsters take centre stage but boost for Whites defender

Three Leeds United players were overlooked as youngsters took centre stage but not without a boost for a Whites defender.

Leeds have six players representing the club at this summer’s under-21s Euros which began this week but three of the Whites youngsters representing their nations were unused substitutes in Thursday’s 5pm games.

Leo Hjelde and Kristoffer Klaesson endured a frustrating evening as both stayed on the bench for Norway’s under-21s who suffered a 2-1 defeat against Switzerland in their Group D opener despite taking a first-half lead.

Charlie Cresswell was also named on the bench for England’s under-21s in their Group C curtain-raiser against the Czech Republic despite having returned from a fractured eye socket to start the warm up game against Japan earlier this month. James Garner instead came into the side to partner Taylor Harwood-Bellis at centre-back.

Cresswell, though, ultimately looked on as his side got off to the perfect start via a 2-0 victory in which Jacob Ramsey and Emile Smith-Rowe bagged a goal apiece.

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