OPINION
As if Leeds United’s status on the injury front could not have got much worse this season, they suffer perhaps the most devastating of all the blows over the international break.
While by no means a mainstay in the senior side, with not a single Championship appearance to his name, Jamal Blackman was still a key part of the squad, the goalkeeper offering experienced cover for Bailey Peacock-Farrell, keeping the young talent under serious pressure as the Whites mount a push for the title.
Seeing him suffer a fractured foot while playing for the under-23s – another ill-fated outing at reserve level after Patrick Bamford’s injury blow earlier in the season – means that Leeds have sent Blackman back to Chelsea, leaving them with a distinct lack of experience when it comes to options between the sticks.
Behind Peacock-Farrell are Will Huffer and Kamil Miazek – neither with any first team action to their name – and as such a new signing seems of paramount importance to Marcelo Bielsa in January.
Step forward Newcastle United’s Freddie Woodman.
An under-20 World Cup winner with England – being named goalkeeper of the tournament – the 21-year-old already has experience of playing senior football with loan spells at Kilmarnock and Aberdeen in Scotland’s top flight, Crawley Town in League Two and one senior Magpies’ outing in the FA Cup.
More importantly perhaps is the fact that the Chronicle are claiming that the youngster is desperate to leave St James’ Park this winter to find first team action and that must put him on Leeds’ radar immediately.
While he might lack experience, Blackman hardly possessed much game time either, and so it shows Bielsa is willing to give young guns the chance if they are old enough.
Woodman is a serious hot prospect at Newcastle but one which is not being given the chance to shine and with Peacock-Farrell facing a shaky time at present, the under-21 international would give him some serious competition, while saving on having to splash out the cash for a new signing.