Leeds United’s Eoghan Stokes missed a chance to impress on Monday night.
Conor Shaughnessy looks like he might be the latest Republic of Ireland-born Leeds United player to capture the hearts of the Elland Road faithful.
The 21-year-old defender has shown huge promise since progressing into Leeds’ senior squad from the Under-23 side last term and he will be keen to join the likes of Johnny Giles, Gary Kelly and Ian Harte as an Irish great in West Yorkshire.
There is another talented Irishman in the Under-23s but it looks like a tall order for Eoghan Stokes to follow his compatriot into Thomas Christiansen’s first team.
Stokes, also 21, made his full debut for the Whites back in August during their League Cup win over Newport County, but the young striker hasn’t had a look-in since and needs to rely on impressing in the Under-23s to endear himself.
The Dublin-born forward, who turns 22 next month, netted against Harrogate Town XI last week but he failed to build on it with a wasteful showing in last night’s 1-0 defeat by Burnley Under-23s.
Stokes missed a sitter on 14 minutes by blazing over the bar from eight yards out after being set up by Alejandro Machuca, before missing the target with good opportunities either side of the half-time break.
He might well feel as if he should have had at least one goal on the night and, as a result, it is hard to imagine him being selected for Leeds’ League Cup trip to Leicester City later this month.
In all probability he might not have made the squad anyway, given it’s the last-16 stage and away to a Premier League side, but another good showing against Burnley might have asked a question of Christiansen at the very least but that chance, like his ones against the Clarets, might have gone begging.
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