Ben White continues to pick up the plaudits after a brilliant start to the season with Leeds.
The 21-year-old has hardly put a foot wrong since he arrived on loan from Brighton, despite only playing in Leagues One and Two before he signed.
He helped transform the EFL cup tie against Stoke on Tuesday night after being introduced by manager Marcelo Bielsa at half-time, with Leeds 2-0 down.
Leeds stormed back into the game and got back on level terms but couldn’t force a winner and eventually went out on penalties.
However, Leeds fans were in raptures again at the performance of the centre-back who has steadied the ship at Elland Road and helped deliver the best defence in the Championship so far.
Leeds have only conceded two goals in five games and White has played a big part in that, as well as kick-starting attacks with his brilliant range of passing.
Here are the best reactions to White following Tuesday’s game:
https://twitter.com/lufcblog_/status/1166758210004541441
According to WyScout, White has a pass success rate of 91.5% this season and topped that in the second-half of the game against Stoke on Tuesday (92%).
The video clip posted by a fan above shows his vision as he pings a long ball over the Stoke defence, almost creating a goal from nothing.
On average he ‘s played 5.49 long balls every 90 minutes this season with a success rate close to 60%.
@Rotherthoughts I mean, The man can do anything.
— Dean Hunter (@MidnightDeano) August 28, 2019
Ben White is a hybrid of Beckham, Ferdinand and Terry Butcher. Scouting him, even for a loan, is genius!
— Simon Forster (@SAForster) August 28, 2019
High praise indeed from this fan who said, “White is a hybrid of Beckham, Ferdinand and Terry Butcher”. He went on to say scouting him, even for a loan, is genius – and he does look like being the best signing the club made all summer.
That might have come as a surprise for Leeds fans who weren’t even sure if White was being brought in as cover or for the first-team. At the moment he’s probably the first name on the team sheet.
If we don’t sign this guy permanently I quit
— Sam LUFC ?? (@vSamLUFC) August 28, 2019
There’s no way Brighton will let him go. ?
— BenBuford11 (@BenBuford11) August 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/LUFC_NewsOnline/status/1166779297887117312
This is the problem for Leeds, although it’s a good one to have this season. According to Football Insider, Leeds don’t have an option to buy built into his loan deal and the way he’s playing it’s going to be tough to convince Brighton to sell. Never mind that though, Leeds fans will be hoping that Brighton don’t have a recall clause in January.
https://twitter.com/daveytom66/status/1166753005947039744
Ben White is literally the last part of a big Marcelo jigsaw for me. Outstanding defender who has so many other strings to his bow as well going forward. Keep him fit and we’ll be alright this year. Brighton must have 2 phenomenal centre halves…. #LUFC ?
— James Rowlands (@JamesMRowlands) August 28, 2019
One fan went as far as to say that White is the “last part of a big Marcelo jigsaw for me” and dubbed him an “outstanding defender”.
Leeds fans were distraught when Pontus Jansson left for Brentford over the summer but they should have known Bielsa would have a plan. So far, Leeds are better with White and Cooper than they were with Cooper and Jansson.
White will face his biggest test yet in his short Leeds career on Saturday as the team’s most potent attack (Swansea) visit Elland Road for a top-of-the-table clash. Another win will really stamp Leeds’ promotion credentials.