Leeds United’s next generation got the chance to impress on their post-season tour.
While Leeds United’s recent tour of Myanmar caused controversy and prompted plenty of raised eyebrows, it ultimately gave the Whites’ next generation a chance to prove they can cut it in the first-team, albeit against less than illustrious opposition.
Regardless of the stage, some of Leeds’ talented youngsters seized their chance admirably and their manager Paul Heckingbottom would be wise to keep them in his thinking ahead of next season.
It is one thing giving youth a chance in meaningless friendlies, and quite another putting faith in them when every point counts, but some of Leeds bright young things showed they deserve a chance ahead of their under-performing senior teammates.
At the head of the queue are Tyler Denton, Ryan Edmondson and Jamie Shackleton, who all deserve to remain in Leeds’ first-team plans rather than slipping either back into the under-23s or heading out on loan.
Leeds’ squad needs plenty of work this summer but throwing money at the problem is not the only viable solution and, while additions are necessary in key areas, there should also be a few spaces left for the next generation to stake a claim and earn valuable minutes.
Heckingbottom has come in for plenty of criticism since arriving at Leeds but he got something right when he named a relatively young squad for his post-season tour.
He must now ensure that was the start of something great, not a decision made simply to give his first-team stars a breather.
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