Ryan Edmondson is set to be axed from the Leeds United squad for their Championship clash against Blackburn Rovers despite his reserve-team heroics today.
The striker, 17, scored a hat-trick in an 80-minute run-out for the United Under-23s as they demolished Barnsley 4-1 at Oakwell training complex.
Edmondson was an unused substitute in Leeds’ 1-1 draw against Brentford before the international break and his lengthy run-out less than 24 hours before Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off at Ewood Park surely means he will not retain his place in Marcelo Bielsa’s squad.
? | Carlos Corberan names his #LUFC U23s Starting XI to face Barnsley:-
Huffer, Ayling, Davis, Nicell, Struijk, Diaz, Stevens, Gotts, McCalmont, Edmondson, Dalby pic.twitter.com/Ut2qTJqW1q
— Leeds United (@LUFC) October 19, 2018
OPINION
Given that Leeds kick-off at Ewood at 12pm on Saturday, giving Edmondson a recovery time of just 20 hours, there is no chance he will be named in the matchday squad for what would be the fifth time this season. The 17-year-old spearhead has been one of the beneficiaries of the injury crisis that has robbed Leeds of Kemar Roofe, Patrick Bamford and Pablo Hernandez for the last six weeks. Like fellow 17-year-old Jack Clarke, Edmondson has been given exposure to the senior side and made his second appearance for the club as a substitute in the 2-1 defeat against Birmingham last month. With Roofe and Hernandez fit again and set to return to the team against Rovers, there will be two less attacking slots available and Edmondson is set to be one of those who lose out. His time will surely come again. Like Clarke, he is making a name for himself at youth team level and proving regular proof of his exciting talent.