Young Irish centre-back Paudie O’Connor is training with the Leeds first team across pre-season, according to an Elland Road insider.
The 19-year-old has only been at a part of the Yorkshire giants’ side for three months after making the move from Ireland and hometown club Limerick in March.
However, he has clearly impressed in his opening stages and on Monday evening the unofficial Leeds United Academy Twitter account claimed that the teenager was a part of Thomas Christiansen’s senior team this summer.
Good news that #lufc u23 centre half @Paudie97 is training with the first team during pre season
— LUFC Youth (@leedsutdacademy) June 26, 2017
The unofficial Leeds United academy account is establishing a reputation as an increasingly reliable source of Leeds youth team news and it has previously revealed that Brentford midfielder Luke Dunn was on trial with the Under-23s, while also stating that both Mory Diaw and Julio Lopez were also on trial.
Fans will now be pleased to see that Christiansen is looking to integrate youth products into the seniors in his first month at the club.
The centre-back position is also one of much need to the current Leeds team with Kyle Bartley’s future still uncertain following the end of his loan spell at the club.
O’Connor has previously starred in Ireland, playing 39 times for the Limerick first team at a young age and with two years on his contract with Leeds he will now be looking to make an impact in England.