OPINION
Ryan Edmondson can make a huge impact at Leeds United in the forthcoming season – and Marcelo Bielsa knows it.
The Argentine manager already appears clued up to the immense potential of the wonderkid, who turned 17 at the end of May, just weeks after making his senior bow in the 2017-18 finale against QPR.
At that time, the minds of many Leeds players were on the beach and ex-boss Paul Heckingbottom was handing out senior appearances to the rookies like confetti.
A few of them rose to the challenge – most notably Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Tom Pearce – but whispers are growing increasingly loud that Edmondson could be the best of the lot.
The Yorkshire Evening Post report today that the academy centre-forward is training with the senior squad as they experience frustration in their pursuit of a proven Championship goalscorer, with moves for Matej Vydra of Derby County and ex-Hull City front man Abel Hernandez yet to come to fruition.
Signed from York City in January, Edmondson has made a huge impact. He was in stunning form for Leeds’ Under-18s last season, helping them win the Professional Development League north division this term with his prolific goalscoring.
Frustrated by the lack of goals and all-round impact of senior forward quartet Pierre-Michel Lasogga, Caleb Ekuban, Jay-Roy Grot and Kemar Roofe, Heckingbottom turned to the youth team to strengthen the senior side as Leeds limped over the Championship finish line in May.
Many Leeds fans would have expected Sam Dalby, two years older and a regular scorer for the Under-23s, to get the senior squad nod first.
Edmondson was catapulted into contention due to dazzling displays for the Under-18s, including a hat-trick against Burnley in March.
Born in Harrogate but a Leeds fan, Edmondson progressed quickly through the ranks at York and had even made his first-team debut for the Minstermen in the month before moving for an undisclosed fee.
At the time, City boss Martin Gray said: “I think it is fantastic for everybody. He’s definitely worthy of the opportunity to play at that level as a future Championship and, potentially, Premier League player.
“He’s gone to the right club – the set-up and the environment he’s going to is great and he is a Leeds boy so it makes a lot of sense and it’s really exciting.”
Credit to Edmondson, who appears to be showing the knack for being in the right place at the right time. In both the penalty box and in a broader football sense.