Leif Davis assist provides another glimpse into Leeds’ future

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Leif Davis produced a fantastic cross in Leeds United’s Carabao Cup tie this week.

What is particularly exciting about the current Leeds side at the moment is how easy it is to imagine some of the club’s most talented young players stepping up one day and replacing those who currently have key roles in Marcelo Bielsa’s side.

Carlos Corberan’s under-23s use a system very similar to the one that Bielsa has implemented, so fans can imagine Alfie McCalmont coming in if Kalvin Phillips is sold, Mateusz Bogusz one day replacing Mateusz Klich and Jamie Shackleton taking on Adam Forshaw’s role.

Of course, they all have a lot of work to do to get to those levels – particularly, McCalmont, given how good Phillips has been since Bielsa’s arrival – but the potential is definitely there.

And another member of the Leeds squad who looks destined to establish himself as a first-team regular in the coming years is Leif Davis, with the 19-year-old starting both of the club’s Carabao Cup ties this term, as well as featuring in the opening day win at Bristol City.

Davis has rarely let the team down when he has played, and is already showcasing his versatility having initially emerged at left-back and more recently, impressed in a centre-back role as part of a back three.

The teenager looks to have the potential to be a star in either role, but there was no question that he provided a glimpse in Leeds’s cup tie with Stoke City this week of why he could, one day, prove to be the man to establish himself as Barry Douglas’s long-term successor at left-back.

While Douglas has not had the easiest time since arriving at Elland Road, there is no doubt that he is one of the best players in the squad at producing a teasing cross that causes all sorts of problems.

Davis provided the assist for Leeds’s second goal in their second-half comeback against the Potters with a sumptuous ball into the penalty area that found its way into the six-yard box and yet, left Jack Butland rooted to his goalline and allowed Helder Costa to equalise.

It was a piece of brilliance from the youngster. And it was perhaps the moment from the game that showed exactly why he could be the man to take over from Douglas in the years to come.