Leeds United U21s boss explains youngster loan benefit as Harry Gray returns
A handful of young Leeds United stars have enjoyed senior exposure this season.
Leeds United Under-21s head coach Scott Gardner has hailed the first-team exposure some of his young stars enjoyed out on loan this season.
Harry Gray was the most high-profile academy loan exit, joining League One Rotherham United on a six-month deal in January. The 17-year-old registered three goals and one assist in an impressive individual stint, although he was unable to keep the Milers from relegation to League Two.
Gray will now return to Thorp Arch where a decision will be made on where to spend next season. Promising 19-year-old goalkeeper Rory Mahady also played 19 times for National League outfit Scunthorpe United, who finished in the play-offs, while Darryl Ombang spent time on loan at FC United of Manchester.
“There comes a point where the U21s football provides a certain amount for the lads but after that, they do need to go and experience senior games and they will be much better and more experienced as players and as people,” Gardner told LUTV. “We have also had six or seven lads around the first team training group so for them to be around Premier League footballers every single day can help them improve them as players.”
With young stars like Gray moving into senior football elsewhere, opportunities have arisen for other academy prospects to step up. Under-21s skipper Alfie Cresswell and midfielder Rhys Chadwick have been among those to impress.
“We have tried to push younger players up for the last couple of years and we have increased the challenge this year as well with the actual games programme,” Gardner said. “We definitely noticed in later rounds of games that you can see that they are starting to get used to the tempo and the pace of the U21s football. Going into next season, we are a little bit ahead with them which is where we wanted them to be so it is very exciting for us.
“Hopefully, we will be starting the season in a position where the players know us well and we know them well. We have already got targets of what we want to do with them. So, instead of getting to around Christmas time, we should hit the ground running really and we are really looking forward to getting them going after the summer break.”
There have also been some fresh faces around Thorp Arch this season, most notably Jayden Lienou who joined from Manchester City last summer and has been a regular for Gardner’s side. The Welsh youth international full-back has even made Daniel Farke’s matchday squad in the last two games against Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton.
“We have obviously got the new faces like Jayden who have come in and they offer something completely different to what we have had before and I think they complement the rest of the players, particularly the younger group coming up,” Gardner added. “We are excited to see where they can go.”