Tom Pearce appeared to struggle for Leeds United last week.
Paul Heckingbottom has revealed to a press conference, via Leeds Live, that he sat down witth Leeds United youngster Tom Pearce to dissect his performance against Norwich City last week.
Leeds lost their penultimate game of the season after going down 2-1 to the Canaries, despite taking the lead.
The young left-back, 20, was being targeted by the Norwich attack, and Heckingbottom admitted afterwards that he was ‘screaming’ over Pearce’s struggles [Leeds Live].
It was only his fourth Championship start and the United boss revealed via Leeds Live today that he “made it really clear” to Pearce how he could improve from this point on.
“Yeah we sat down with bits and pieces. He’d already seen the game back himself. I try, especially with young players, to ask them first, rather than me lead with everything and see what he though of it.
“He picked up some really good points, but it was important I made it really clear what I was going to talk about with him, how I can make his game a little bit easier.
“Sometimes making what you consider is the easiest decision on the pitch, because you’re tired you’re under pressure or on the back foot, you can put yourself in a worse position. And it was those sort of instances that I was trying to show him.”
Heckingbottom caught a bit of criticism himself for singling out Pearce afterwards but hopefully for Leeds’ sake the youngster can learn from his experience at Norwich.
He has already shown plenty of promise and he will be determined to become the Whites’ first-choice left-back next season.
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