Leeds United defender Charlie Taylor has made 43 appearances this season.
Charlie Taylor has admitted to Leeds United’s official site that there was a stage earlier in his career that he feared he would have to leave Elland Road.
Taylor was a late bloomer at Leeds, and it is only recently that he has really nailed down a place in the Yorkshire side’s first-team.
The academy graduate was sent out on a series of loan spells during his younger years, and when he went on a temporary move to Fleetwood Town at the start of the 2013/14 campaign he admits that he feared leaving the club.
The left-back was out of contract in the summer of 2014, but Taylor’s performances for Fleetwood convinced Leeds that he could have a future.
Taylor was offered a new deal, and since then he has not looked back.
The 22-year-old got his opportunity in January 2015, when he replaced Steven Warnock in the Whites’ starting line-up, and he has looked perfectly comfortable.
Taylor has turned into one of Leeds’ most important players, and he is regarded as one as a player capable of making the grade in the Premier League.
But the youngster admits things could have been very different. He said: “When I went on loan to Fleetwood and my Leeds contract was running out at the end of that season, I did think I might have to move elsewhere.
“I hadn’t played in about a year-and-a-half and I wasn’t really getting a look in.
“I never really got a look in and, before I went to Fleetwood, I did think that I might have to go elsewhere to take my career on.
“The promotion at Fleetwood helped massively and, as soon as Leeds offered me a new contract, it was a no-brainer to stay here.”
Taylor has now established himself as a key part of Leeds’ team, after making 43 appearances for Steve Evans’ side this season.
Leeds now face a fight to keep hold of Taylor again, as a number of Premier League clubs have been linked with the defender in recent times.
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