Could Bryce Hosannah start to push Luke Ayling for Leeds chance?

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Bryce Hosannah continues to catch the eye for Leeds United’s under-23 side as he makes his way back from injury.

With Marcelo Bielsa opening the door for so many under-23 players at Leeds this season, it feels as though it is no longer right to say that the Whites boast one of the smallest first-team squads in the division despite the boss trimming his numbers down significantly over the summer.

The path now appears to be there for any member of Carlos Corberan’s side to push themselves onto Bielsa’s radar. Injuries to key men have played their part, but the likes of Jack Clarke and Jamie Shackleton have certainly grasped their opportunities with both hands.

Every under-23 game now feels like a chance for the youngsters to catch Bielsa’s eye, especially with the number of injuries the first-team has had to deal with this term.

And perhaps after Leeds’ 2-0 victory against Crewe on Monday, the next name to look out for is Bryce Hosannah.

Hosannah’s potential has been a talking point for a while, but injury kept him sidelined for the best part of nine months and he is still making his way back towards full fitness.

However, based on his performance against Crewe, his long-term injury is not going to derail the right-back from realising his potential as he managed to steal some of the headlines away from Kalvin Phillips and Izzy Brown, who scored both goals in the victory.

Hosannah looked lively throughout, provided an assist and played a key role in the second goal as he made a lengthy run up the field.

His confidence appears to be sky-high, and that should perhaps leave Luke Ayling with something to think about over the remaining months of the season.

Bielsa has uncovered several options when Ayling has been unavailable. Gaetano Berardi is the most obvious understudy, but Stuart Dallas and Shackleton have played well when used in that position.

Ayling – who cost a bargain £750,000, according to the Express – appears to be getting back to his best after a more underwhelming second season at Elland Road. But with the likes of Dallas and Shackleton not natural right-backs, there is a real opportunity for Hosannah to perhaps push himself into the picture as Ayling’s understudy.

And if he continues to play for the under-23s as he did on Monday, perhaps Ayling will be under a little more pressure to ensure that he does maintain his current form.