Championship outfit Leeds United cruised bast League Two opposition Salford City in the Carabao Cup at Moor Lane.
When the transfer window slammed shut on Thursday, you could understand if Leeds United fans were worried that this proud old club had shot themselves in the foot once again.
After all, a 46-game Championship season is enough of a slog already, particularly when you’ve got just three senior centre-backs at your disposal. One of those, by the way, is the injury prone Gaetano Berardi.
But maybe there is a reason why Marcelo Bielsa didn’t feel the need to reinforce his back line despite the departures of Pontus Jansson, Paudie O’Connor and Aapo Halme.
If the Argentine is famed for one thing, it is his trust in youth. And if Tuesday’s 3-0 League Cup win away at Salford City is anything to go by, you can expect to see 19-year-old Leif Davis get a few more outings at the centre of the defence over the next eight months or so.
The Newcastle-born teenager had featured at left-back whenever he’s been promoted to the first-team until now but, thanks in part to some inspired coaching by Carlos Corberan, Davis now looks like a real option in the centre after a display full of class and composure.
No one made more tackles or interceptions than Davis at Moor Lane and he looked more than comfortable bringing the ball out of the back too. Did we mention a dramatic, on-the-line block from Richie Towell with the score at 0-0?
No wonder the fans were impressed.
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