Paul Heckingbottom explains why he’s picking Leeds United’s Callum Nicell

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Leeds United could only manage to pick up a 1-1 draw with Sunderland in their latest outing.

Paul Heckingbottom has told BBC Radio Leeds that Callum Nicell is getting his first-team chance, because he is homegrown.

Nicell was included on Leeds’ substitutes’ bench on Saturday, when they took on Sunderland.

The 18-year-old was given the nod against many of Leeds’ more experienced players.

And when asked why Heckingbottom was picking Nicell, he suggested that it was simply to fit in with the Football League’s rules over homegrown players.

“He’s homegrown, that’s it,” Heckingbottom said, when asked why Nicell was being picked.

“It sounds nasty, but it’s not at all. We have to have seven in the 18 and he was next in line. He has trained with us and is doing well, but it is tough on some players who maybe would consider themselves in front of Callum.”

Nicell was selected ahead of the likes of Pawel Cibicki and Hadi Sacko to be on Leeds’ bench against Sunderland.

The midfielder did not come on to make his debut, but he is now starting to push for a chance.

Leeds’ season looks to be petering out, with the Whites form since Heckingbottom took charge extremely poor.

Leeds could only manage to draw 1-1 with relegation threatened Sunderland, with Pablo Hernandez scoring the Whites only goal during the contest.