Leeds United’s Ousama Siddiki was a half-time casualty for the Under-23s today – and Thomas Christiansen was there to see it.
Thomas Christiansen was in attendance to watch Leeds United’s Under-23 face their Crewe Alexandra equivalent today.
No fewer than six pre-season recruits – Bryce Hosannah, Oriol Rey, Ousama Siddiki, Alejandro Machuca, Madger Gomes and Kun Temenuzhkov – were included in Carlos Corberan’s first XI.
With head coach Christiansen watching on, the Leeds youngsters all had an extra incentive to impress against Crewe but Siddiki might be wondering if a big chance passed him by.
The 19-year-old striker, signed on a Bosman after being released by Real Madrid, was one of two changes at the break as Corberan sought to freshen things up.
There are three possibilities: Siddiki was injured, Corberan was preserving him for the clash with Huddersfield Under-23s – who sit ninth in the development league – in 10 days time, or he simply had a poor first half. The latter seems most probable.
Leeds have a League Cup clash at Leicester City this month. Christiansen has used fringe players in the previous three rounds and you wonder whether a strong showing today might have put Siddiki in contention for a squad place at least.
By the same token, you wonder if a poor first 45 minutes has already given him a mountain to climb when it comes to impressing Christiansen.
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