The former Elland Road favourite was a teammate of O’Kane at Bournemouth.
Former Leeds United defender Ian Harte has outlined the Yorkshire Evening Post what new signing Eunan O’Kane will bring to Garry Monk’s team.
Harte, who reached a Champions League semi-final with Leeds, was part of the Bournemouth side promoted to the Premier League in 2015.
O’Kane was a regular or the Cherries that season, but only featured 16 times in last season’s top flight and was rendered surplus to requirements at Dean Court following Jack Wilshere’s loan arrival from Arsenal.
Harte, though, has spoken highly of his former teammate.
“Eunan’s a very clever player,” Harte told the Yorkshire Evening Post, “very consistent – seven out of 10, eight out of 10, that sort of level every time. People appreciated the work he did.
“He’s great with the ball at his feet and if you play to his strengths he’ll break from midfield and look to slide balls into the strikers. That’s what he’s good at.”
O’Kane’s capture means Leeds now have eight recognised central midfielders – three of whom were signed by Monk.
However, with Ronaldo Vieira still in his teens, Kalvin Phillips barely out of his and both Luke Murphy and Toumani Diagouraga currently out of favour, Harte believes his fellow Irishman – along with Liam Bridcutt – was a necessary addition.
“Garry needs that bit of experience to help get them on a run,” the 39-year-old added. “Eunan and Bridcutt together looks like a really strong partnership. Eunan will get forward as much as he can and I’d expect to see Bridcutt sit and give him the freedom to push on. It should tighten things up in there.”
O’Kane, who has four caps for his country, could make his debut in Saturday’s West Yorkshire derby against Huddersfield Town at Elland Road.
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