Izzy Brown could be ahead of schedule in his bid to make his long-awaited Leeds United return, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.
The regional newspaper claim the on-loan Chelsea attacking midfielder is set to feature for the Under-23s at Sheffield United next Monday after emerging unscathed from last Friday’s age-group defeat to Birmingham City.
The Yorkshire Evening Post report the emergence of Brown could provide strong competition for playmaker Samuel Saiz and offers a “welcome tonic” for Marcelo Bielsa amid a slew of senior player injury concerns.
OPINION
Out injured since January with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, it has been a long, hard road to recovery for Brown, and that journey is now close to completion. The Leeds coaches will no doubt have plan for how to continue to ease the loanee back into action after he completed 45 minutes for the Under-23s against Birmingham, the same match in which his fellow Chelsea man Jamal Blackman broke his leg to seemingly bring an end to his time at Leeds. United will want to take it carefully with Brown, not only for fear of putting too much strain on his body, but also to avoid another devastating breakdown. It would be daft to take a risk by introducing him to first-team football too quickly, even though the youngster will be straining at the leash to show Bielsa what he can do. There is still plenty of time left in the season, and Leeds will have a major asset on their hands if Brown is in top condition.