Leeds United under-23 midfielder Alfie McCalmont has been spotted in training with the senior Northern Ireland squad.
McCalmont, 19, enjoyed a great season in Leeds’ academy as they won the under-23 Professional Development League and featured heavily in Carlos Coberan’s side throughout.
Northern Ireland posted an update on their official Twitter account of their squad in training camp and the 19-year-old, who has never played for the first team at Elland Road, was in the middle of a huddle with boss, Michael O’Neill.
?: The players have been putting a shift in today! ?? ?? ?? #GAWA ? pic.twitter.com/SAYFl3masU
— Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) May 28, 2019
McCalmont’s impressive form in Leeds’ youth side led to him being called up to make his Northern Ireland U-21’s debut in March in a victory over Mexico.
Fellow club teammates Bailey Peacock Farrell and Stuart Dallas were also present in training before O’Neill selects his squad on Thursday for two fixtures at the beginning on June.
OPINION
This is great news for McCalmont who has had an impressive couple of years in his career. After signing a brand new contract in January at Leeds, his U-21 debut quickly followed, all at the age of 19. His role in Carlos Coberan’s side in midfield see’s him as a box to box player who has excelled on the ball. He can play both sitting deep in the middle and can also push forward in to more attacking areas, something which makes Leeds’ youth side so much more dangerous. To get the headlines in Leeds’ academy is a hard task with so many youngsters performing every week but McCalmont is one of those who has done just that and was vital in their Professional Development League triumph in which they beat Birmingham on penalties to secure glory. Northern Ireland scouts have been spotted at Thorp Arch to watch the starlet who has yet to make his senior club debut and they clearly liked what they saw in the youngster.