England U21s boss Lee Carsley has praised Leeds United’s academy fold and told Leeds Live how Cody Drameh, Charlie Cresswell, Sam Greenwood and Joe Gelhardt have impressed.
Carsley is closely tracking the quartet’s development at Thorp Arch for future Young Lions squads. As the former Everton midfielder targets qualification for the U21 Euros in 2023.
Carsley only named Cresswell from Leeds’ academy in his initial England U21s squad for the current international break. But Drameh later replaced Valentino Livramento due to an injury forcing the Southampton defender to withdraw.
Drameh’s late call up ultimately led to a back-up role when England’s U21s faced the Czech Republic on Thursday. While Cresswell only featured from the 89th-minute off the bench.
Cresswell and Drameh will hope Carsley awards minutes and a chance to impress when the Young Lions visit Georgia. Facing the co-hosts of Euro 2023 in a friendly on Tuesday.
England boss Carsley impressed with Leeds academy
But despite their limited roles against the Czech Republic, Leeds prospects Cresswell and Drameh have impressed England U21s boss Carsley.
Drameh has previously worked with Carsley in England’s U20 set-up, but this week gave Cresswell his first chance to impress.
“I’ve worked with Cody in the 20s,” Carsley said. “This is the first time I’ve come across Charlie. [I’m] impressed with them immensely, especially their attitudes. They’re very good people, they train really well every single day, they compete.
“You can see that it takes them a couple of days to get out of the way they train and they play, because obviously they’re very man-to-man.
“So, getting that awareness again and getting that understanding that we play a little bit different, getting onto our wavelength quickly [takes time].
“I’ve been really impressed with not only them two, but obviously Joe Gelhardt, who came with us last camp. Sam Greenwood, as well – there are a lot of good players at Leeds.
“I enjoy watching their U23s play, as well. I’ve been down to Thorp Arch a couple of times, I really like it, obviously their academy are doing a great job.”
Greenwood and Gelhardt next in line?
Fellow Leeds prospects Greenwood and Gelhardt will hope they are next in line for call ups to England U21s.
Greenwood has enjoyed a solid season in the Whites’ development side with five goals and three assists in the PL2. Marcelo Bielsa also handed him his first-team debut in the FA Cup in January, plus minutes against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup last month.
Gelhardt also made his Leeds bow in the EFL Cup this term, featuring against Fulham and against Arsenal. While making his Premier League debut against Southampton and playing another half-hour against Wolves. A brief cameo in which the 19-year-old still impressed.
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