Lauded by Jason Blunt, will Leeds United live to regret letting the striker leave?
If you’re a young player aiming to make strides in the professional game, there’s worse places to be than Leeds United. However, 19-year-old striker Frank Mulhern has been denied the chance to follow in the footsteps of Lewis Cook, Charlie Taylor and co, instead joining local rivals Huddersfield after a brief trial.
And though the departure of young player without a first-team appearance to his name is hardly headline news, big things were expected of the Ireland youth international despite an ineffective loan spell at Southport – not least from Leeds’ Under-23 coach Jason Blunt.
“He has improved I would say 100% since he’s come in for pre-season,” Blunt (below) said in quotes reported by Southport’s official website after the teenager netted his third goal in three games for the reserve team. “It’s a great finish from Frank and to be fair to him.
“He’s looking more athletic and powerful, and he’s a talented boy who obviously he knows where the back of the net is.”
He’ll have to get used to shooting into the goals at Huddersfield from now on, however, having been deemed not up to scratch by the decision makers at Elland Road.
The prospect of Mulhern rising through the ranks with The Terriers will no doubt have fans fearing their very own Raul, let go by Atletico Madrid to become a legend at Real, or Ryan Giggs, swapping City for United.
However, the fact that Monk has begun including fellow academy star Mallik Wilks in his matchday squad suggests that Mulhern was simply too far down the pecking order. Though, if Blunt’s praise is anything to go by, Leeds may have let go of a youngster with a great deal of potential.
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