OPINION
Leeds United have been awfully reliant on their youth system this season but thankfully for Marcelo Bielsa the quality of youngsters coming through the ranks at Thorp Arch is mightily impressive.
The clash at home to Bolton might have seen just one club graduate in the form of Kalvin Phillips in the starting XI but there were five on the bench, highlighting just how paper thin the squad available to the manager is as well as how much trust is being put in the stars of tomorrow.
It has been injuries and suspensions which have forced the Argentine’s hand into bringing the next generation into the senior setup and the latest blow might well see him have to look into the under-23s to find someone else to fill a gaping void.
The Yorkshire Evening Post’s Phil Hay has reported that Kemar Roofe will not be back in action until April at the earliest after his injury setback – a bitter pill for the Whites to swallow considering how important he has proven to be this season – and with just Patrick Bamford and Tyler Roberts to fill in as centre forwards, there is surely going to be a case of Bielsa dipping into the youth squad.
The lucky man must be 17-year-old Ryan Edmondson, who stole the show with a brace on Monday night in the under-23s’ 3-1 win over Newcastle United.
The youngster has already been seen once in the first team this season, playing 19 minutes back in September, and this blow over the next five weeks – at minimum – will surely see him return to the fold as a necessity.
He is an exciting talent with plenty to prove and considering how Jack Clarke thrived in the Championship, Edmondson must not be far behind his fellow teenager.