Clarke Oduor made his Leeds United debut last Sunday.
Clarke Oduor has admitted to Leeds United’s website that he couldn’t believe it when Marcelo Bielsa told him that he’d be making his senior debut.
The 19-year-old earned his first taste of senior football this past weekend after making a second-half cameo in Leeds’ 2-1 defeat at QPR in the third round of the FA Cup.
The versatile midfielder, a product of United’s Thorp Arch academy, is now hoping to use his experience of first-team football as a launchpad for greater things.
“I found out just before training the day before, and when I was told I was going to be in the squad, I was just in a bit of disbelief.,” he told the Whites’ official website.
“The FA Cup is a great competition, and it’s got a great history for young lads stepping up to make their debuts, and it was an honour to be the next person to do it.
“When you’re with the first team, it’s a lot more competitive, there’s a lot more going on, and you’ve got to be on it every minute. For a young player, it’s a great opportunity to learn from, and take that back to the U23s.”
Like Oduor, Kun Temenuzhkov also made his Leeds bow in the same game, and the former Barcelona prospect followed that up by scoring twice in the Under-23 win over Hull City on Monday.
The Bulgarian, who joined the Elland Road side in the summer of 2017, is certainly one to watch, but he probably won’t get any more senior chances this season.
Bielsa has Kemar Roofe, Patrick Bamford and Tyler Roberts as striking options and, with United aiming for Premier League promotion, the Argentine coach is simply unlikely to need him for the second half of the season, barring a major crisis of injuries.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
