Noel Whelan was encouraged by the debut of Leeds forward Jay-Roy Grot against Nottingham Forest and expects him to get better.
The 19-year-old came on as a second-half substitute on Saturday as the Whites picked up an impressive 2-0 away win over Forest in the Championship.
Kemar Roofe and Ezgjan Alioski were on the scoresheet for the visitors as Thomas Christiansen’s side continued their unbeaten start to the season and rose to third in the league.
The Yorkshire giants are beginning life without Chris Wood following his departure to Burnley and Roofe proved he is capable of leading the line.
Meanwhile, recent signing Grot was handed his debut in a 20-minute cameo against Forest and gave fans a glimpse of what he is going to offer.
The target man appears to be a big physical presence and showed some real moments of quality in possession too.
Whelan was pleased with Grot’s substitute role and feels the teenager is only going to improve over time.
“I think we saw some great touchers, good turn of pace, some tight control for such a big man,” Whelan told BBC Radio Leeds. “[He] Won a couple of balls in the air which we expect for someone who’s 6 foot 4.
“But I think he could get better and better, he’s one that you can nurture and improve on because he’s 19 years of age, don’t forget, he’s a young lad, he’s still got loads of learning to do, such a good bit of potential there.”
Leeds completed the signing of Grot recently from Dutch side NEC Nijmegen where he has been developing.
The striker made 24 senior appearances for the Dutch side last season and managed six goals in return.
He has been bought to Elland Road to provide competition in the forward area and is experiencing his first taste of English football.
OPINION
Grot will need a few games in a Leeds shirt before he is assessed, but the early signs are good. The youngster gave the Whites a big focal point up top and offers a different dimension to some of their smaller technical players. There will be times in the Championship when Christiansen’s side will need to dig in and Grot looks like he has the fight to do just that. He showed a particularly impressive bit of skill against Forest where he neatly dribbled away from a defender and looks like he is more than just an aerial threat. It will be interesting to see how he develops and whether £750,000 turns out to be a bargain.