Garry Monk explains what he told Leeds youngsters following defeat to Birmingham in August

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Leeds started the season slowly but are now flying high in the Championship.

Garry Monk has explained that he told Leeds United’s youngsters following the club’s defeat to Birmingham back in August that they needed to grow up quickly, the Yorkshire Evening Post reports.

Monk had no fear calling upon the likes of Ronaldo Vieira, Kalvin Phillips, Hadi Sacko and Kemar Roofe during the early stages of his tenure.

Leeds United manager Garry Monk

However, that strategy did not appear to be paying off for the Whites as they lost four of their first six fixtures in the Championship, including a 2-1 defeat at home to the Blues, prompting Monk to tell the squad a few home truths.

But since those first six games, Leeds have looked a completely different team, rising to fourth in the Championship. And after they beat Aston Villa at Elland Road at the weekend, Monk disclosed the harsh words that he hoped would inspire the turnaround during the early stages of the campaign.

Leeds’ Ronaldo Vieira celebrates scoring at Norwich with Kalvin Phillips and Chris Wood

“It’s something I spoke about after the Birmingham game,” he said, as reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post. “Naivety and apprehension were holding us back

“I talked about young players growing up very quickly and since that point they’ve taken it on board.

“Trying to take fear and apprehension out of them is never easy but giving them confidence to compete against teams like [Villa], who have vastly more experience, is an important process.”

Hadi Sacko of Leeds United in action with Jack Payne of Huddersfield Town

As Monk alluded to, the younger players within the squad have certainly stepped up to the plate in recent months.

Phillips especially has arguably been incredibly influential this term, putting in a man of the match display in last weekend’s win over Villa, but the likes of Vieira, Sacko and Roofe are also making important contributions that have boosted Leeds’ play-off hopes enormously.