Alongside Harry Gray: Leeds can unleash 19-year-old who’s a “joy to watch”
da supremo： Leeds United youngster Harry Gray has attracted attention from supporters this season with his fantastic performances for the U21 side in recent weeks.
da bwin： The 16-year-old fired in an impressive hat-trick against Scunthorpe earlier this month, which sparked some fans to call for him to get more game time in the first-team.
It is not as simple as that, according to Daniel Farke, though, as the Whites head coach explained why patience is needed with Archie Gray’s brother.
Why Harry Gray is not being fast tracked into the Leeds XI
Prior to the 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League, the German boss backed his own record with young players and claimed that the youngster needs to keep playing matches at U21 level.
Farke said: “I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I gave Harry his debut in the crunch time. If I were to back a manager to be brave enough to play a young player, to know what a young player needs, I’d pick me. Harry needs to train with the first team, experience physicality of the Premier League.
“He needs game time with the U21s to stay in his rhythm and not to lose his striker instinct. He needs time and peace to develop. You will see him once he is prepared for Premier League games.”
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Gray is not the only player who is knocking on the door of the first-team, though, as Connor Douglas is also a U21 star who should be unleashed by the former Norwich City head coach when the time is right.
Why Connor Douglas should get a chance in the first-team
Whilst Gray has caught the eye with his goals, including the hat-trick against Scunthorpe, Douglas provided a reminder of his quality with an assist against Crystal Palace’s U21s on Monday night in a 3-2 defeat for the young Whites.
The 19-year-old star is a right-sided attacker and that position in the first-team is still up for grabs, as Brenden Aaronson, Wilfried Gnonto, and Daniel James have combined for zero goals and zero assists in the Premier League this season.
Brenden Aaronson’s Premier League career
Stats
22/23
25/26
Appearances
36
5
xG
3.86
0.19
Goals
1
0
xA
2.59
0.78
Assists
3
0
Dribbles completed per game
0.9
0.8
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Aaronson, who has started the last two games on the right flank, has struggled to make a consistent impact in the final third throughout his top-flight career at Elland Road.
These statistics suggest that the USA international is not the long-term answer to the club’s problem in the right wing position, because he has failed to prove himself to be a reliable option at that level. This opens the door for another player to step up.
Douglas, who was hailed as a “joy to watch” by PureFootball writer Trent Gaffney, has delivered two assists in four Premier League 2 matches so far this season, per Transfermarkt, and may be putting his case forward to make an emergence in the first-team.
The 19-year-old talent has scored five goals and provided six assists in 34 games for the U21s, after a return of six goals and three assists in 27 matches for the U18s, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he has consistently chipped in with goal contributions throughout his academy career.
The next step for the teenage sensation is to make his first-team bow. His form at the start of this season should put him in contention to make the step up, alongside Gray, which is why Farke should look to unleash him on the right flank if his other options continue to underperform in front of goal.