The Leeds United defender has finally got some game time in recent weeks.
Last summer, then-Leeds United boss Thomas Christiansen selected centre-back Paudie O’Connor for his first pre-season fixture, a behind-closed-doors friendly against Harrogate, only to overlook him in favour of Paul McKay for the very next game against Guiseley.
When it came to selecting the tour squad, O’Connor was again conspicuous by his absence, with Conor Shaughnessy selected and ultimately excelling in an unfamiliar centre-back role.
Those early performances earned Shaughnessy his competitive debut and a new contract, while O’Connor was left to wonder where his next chance would come.
Despite Christiansen casting an early eye over the former Limerick defender, it was not until Paul Heckingbottom took over at Leeds that O’Connor finally got his first-team chance, impressing against Sunderland and keeping his place for the subsequent clashes with Preston North End, Aston Villa and Barnsley.
The 20-year-old was on the bench for the weekend defeat to Norwich City but, given his emergence, one wonders what would have happened had O’Connor been selected along with Shaughnessy for Leeds’ pre-season tour.
He is clearly talented, and already had 39 senior appearances (and three goals) for Limerick prior to his switch to Elland Road.
Christiansen opted to ignore O’Connor after that initial early look, but his successor has other ideas, and Leeds look set to benefit from two talented young centre-backs for years to come.
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