Could Leeds United’s Paudie O’Connor make his first appearance of the season against Newport?

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The Leeds United youngster will be hoping to feature in the third round of the FA Cup.

The closest centre-back Paudie O’Connor has got to the Leeds United first-team this season is his role as an unused substitute in the EFL Cup clash against Newport County back in August, but the upcoming FA Cup tie against the same opponents could offer him the ideal opportunity to impress.

O’Connor signed for Leeds from Limerick back in March, and his featured in the early pre-season friendlies before slipping out of contention, watching as fellow youngster Conor Shaughnessy excelled in the summer and at the start of the new campaign.

Shaughnessy has since slipped out of favour and will be hoping to get a chance in January’s cup clash, yet if he plays in his natural position further forward, it could allow O’Connor to feature at the back, potentially alongside loanee Matthew Pennington.

O’Connor arrived at Leeds with a big reputation after featuring 39 times for Limerick, scoring three goals in the process. Since then he has had to make do with run-outs for the Whites’ under-23s, yet the game against Newport is a chance he will no doubt seize with both hands.

Leeds boss Thomas Christiansen will not want to suffer the same fate as his predecessor Garry Monk and oversee a FA Cup exit to lower league opponents. However, with the matches coming thick and fast and the focus very much on promotion, the game should see a few changes in personnel.

Only time will tell if O’Connor features, but Leeds should give the exciting centre-back a chance to prove his worth.