A lot of Leeds United fans were pleased to see Pascal Struijk make his debut for the first team during the Whites’ 2-0 win over Hull City.
Struijk came on in the 91st minute to replace Helder Costa and help Marcelo Bielsa’s men maintain the game.
Do you like the way Bielsa treats the young players?
Yes, slowly intergrating them will be better for their development
No, he should play them more
Though he was only on the pitch for a short period of time, many Leeds fans liked what they saw from the 20-year-old.
? Congrats to Pascal Struijk who made his #LUFC debut in tonight's win at Elland Road! pic.twitter.com/GKoaxyscis
— Leeds United (@LUFC) December 11, 2019
A player I’m looking forward to seeing more and more in the future.
Hes got the talent no doubt.
Well done Pascal, keep up the hard work.
— . (@Drakey21587) December 11, 2019
One fan even called him the next Virgil van Dijk, which is arguably the highest praise he could possibly receive as the Liverpool defender ran Lionel Messi close in the Ballon d’Or polling recently.
@hank_lufc the next VVD!
— Karl (@Karl38839627) December 11, 2019
He looks like a unit
— Stuart Hogg (@Hoggy84Stuart) December 11, 2019
Dude looked like a colossus. Well played. ?
— ? ???? ???????????? ? (@dave_wigz) December 11, 2019
Well done Pascal, have been following your performances in the U23’s and brilliant to see you making the first team at last – hope there are many more appearances to come! ?
— Enzio Francescoli (@Franc3scoli) December 11, 2019
Other Whites supporters wanted to know why Robbie Gotts has not received a first-team debut yet.
What does Gotts have to do to get a debut, could of threw him on instead of Barry for a couple seconds!
— Luke Jordan (@L_Jordan4) December 11, 2019
Hi @PhilHay_ @GrahamSmyth, does Robbie Gotts actually exist or is he just a figment of our imagination?
— Aidan (@lufcAWL) December 11, 2019
What do we think?
Struijk followed Oliver Casey as the latest player from the Under-23s to be given game time, and this has pleased many Leeds fans who feel the future looks bright with these new lads.
Bielsa is not putting these young players under immense pressure either by bringing them on when the Whites are comfortably winning rather than chasing a match.
This should help their development and allow them to settle into the squad.
It was also clever of Bielsa to play Casey on Saturday and then Struijk on Tuesday as it keeps them both involved in the first team.
Injuries might come into play later on in the season, and both Struijk and Casey might have a prominent role to play in the season.
It is, therefore, important that both have made their debuts in case they are needed later on in the year.