Should Alfie McCalmont prove Bielsa’s next revelation at Leeds?

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Alfie McCalmont shone in the role that Kalvin Phillips and Adam Forshaw have featured in for Leeds United this season.

It must be a seriously exciting time to be a young player at Leeds. Even by the Whites’ standards, there has perhaps been no better opportunity for a player to come through the ranks and force their way into Marcelo Bielsa’s plans in the first-team.

The squad that travelled to Loftus Road for their FA Cup tie on Sunday included 12 players who had either come through or are continuing to work with the academy at Thorp Arch.

It was not a Championship game. But you arguably get the feeling from Bielsa that he would not have many concerns using a similarly-inexperienced squad in a league clash if injuries prevented him from calling upon the established stars.

He may not have been involved in the squad on Sunday, but based on his performance during the under-23 side’s victory over Hull City on Monday night, it would not be a surprise if Alfie McCalmont was soon being considered by Bielsa.

One of the reasons some of the other youngsters have adapted well to stepping up is the fact that Carlos Corberan’s men deploy the same system that the first-team use. And in that system, the key man is regularly proving to be the holding midfielder.

In the senior side, Kalvin Phillips has used the role to become one of the most impressive players in the Championship this season. His performances have been a key reason why Leeds find themselves at the top of the table.

Injuries had forced Phillips to drop into centre-back more recently. And that has seen Adam Forshaw given the huge task of filling the void that his teammate has left.

Unfortunately for Leeds, it has not been easy for Forshaw. The £4.5 million signing (via BBC Sport) is clearly an excellent midfielder, but the holding role seems to not bring the best out of him.

Handing McCalmont a chance would be a huge risk – especially with no more FA Cup games to use to try him in the role – but his display at Hull hinted that he could be the player that provides Phillips with cover when he returns from suspension and to his preferred position, allowing Forshaw to get further up the pitch.

The 18-year-old looked a class act in the 3-1 win. He seemed to break up play with ease, and had no problem producing some ambitious passes, despite the terrible conditions the game was played in. His vision when he had the ball certainly hints that he is heading for the senior side sooner or later.

There is perhaps even an argument to say that McCalmont was the standout performer amongst a side that included Liam Cooper, and saw Kun Temenuzhkov score twice and Robbie Gotts bag another with a brilliant finish.

It would arguably be a surprise if McCalmont’s chance in the first-team came anytime soon, especially now that the season is edging towards the business end. But he has unquestionably established himself as one to keep a very close eye on, and perhaps it would be wrong to write off his chances of becoming Bielsa’s next revelation at some stage in the future.