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‘Better than Struijk’: Leeds fans want ‘outstanding’ teen to make debut vs Burnley

Leeds fans show their support prior to the Sky Bet Championship Play-off semi final second leg match between Leeds United and Derby County at Ellan...
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Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images

At least one Leeds United defender played well this week.

And, with Liam Cooper joining Diego Llorente and Robin Koch on the treatment table during the latter stages of the 6-2 humbling at Old Trafford, young Charlie Cresswell could hardly have picked a better time to produce a performance as good as this.

You would expect a forward or an attacking midfielder to dominate the headlines during a 7-1 win – understandably so.

But while Sam Greenwood, Joe Gelhardt and 35-year-old Pablo Hernandez dazzled as Leeds battered Fulham U23s 7-1 on Monday, Cresswell was the name on many Leeds fans’ lips at full-time.

It was the 18-year-old centre-half who gave Leeds a two-goal lead early on with a thumping header while, at the other end, Cresswell was a pillar of confidence and composure.

Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images

While his aerial presence caught the eye, it was a perfectly executed Cruyff turn inside his own half that would have had Marcelo Bielsa sipping his tea a little more excitedly on that upturned bucket of his.

The prospect of Leeds facing a tall, physical Burnley side post-Christmas will give supporters plenty of sleepless nights, especially after Manchester United became the latest team to take advantage of a dismal set-piece record on Sunday.

But Bielsa has a history when it comes to dunking untested teenagers in at the deep end. Is it time to find out whether Cresswell can swim in choppy waters?

Photo by RUI VIEIRA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Here’s what some Leeds fans had to say on Twitter: