Leeds United have two under-23 centre-backs hoping to make the breakthrough and the new addition could usurp the mysterious 2016 signing.
In September 2016 Leeds United signed French centre-back Amadou Haidara in a move that went under the radar and has remained there ever since.
Named more often than not on the substitutes’ bench for Leeds’ under-23s, the defender has a long way to go before he is knocking on the door of first-team manager Garry Monk, and now he has an additional challenge in the form of Paudie O’Connor.
The 19-year-old arrived at Elland Road from Limerick FC earlier this month and he found himself sitting alongside Haidara on the bench for Leeds’ under-23 match against Crystal Palace on Monday afternoon.
Haidara came on shortly before the hour-mark, replacing the injured Paul McKay, but given the former’s lack of impact at Leeds thus far, is it only a matter of time before O’Connor usurps him and perhaps gets the first-team chances the Frenchman no doubt craves?
After all, the new Leeds player is three years Haidara’s junior and made waves at Limerick prior to his switch, featuring 39 times and scoring three goals in the process.
He will have to be patient and develop his game with the second string, but there is a lack of quality defenders coming through the Leeds academy right now and if O’Connor impresses he could jump the queue.
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