Leeds United U23s boss Mark Jackson says Lewis Bate did not feature against Manchester United as he was training with Marcelo Bielsa’s first-team, via the Yorkshire Evening Post.
The Whites’ development side lost 3-2 to the Red Devils at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday afternoon.
Jackson was without a number of his usual players, with Charlie Cresswell, Joe Gelhardt and Cody Drameh also absent.
Sean McGurk and Nohan Kenneh twice drew Leeds level against Manchester United, but Amad Diallo ensured the home side won. Showing neat footwork in the Whites’ box to find the net in the 87th-minute.
Bate had been a mainstay of Jackson’s plans during Leeds’ Premier League 2 campaign until Saturday. With the 19-year-old central midfielder starting each of their 10 prior fixtures.
The London-born prospect, who joined the Whites from Chelsea for £1.5m this summer, also registered his first PL2 assist of the season so far against Arsenal in his last outing.
But Leeds failed to avoid defeat, and are now six PL2 games without a win after losing to Manchester United.
Jackson explains Bate absence for Leeds U23s
Jackson explained after Leeds’ defeat to Manchester United that Bate did not feature as he was training with Bielsa’s first-team.
The Whites host Leicester City at Elland Road on Sunday hoping to claim back-to-back wins after beating Norwich last week. And Jackson has hinted Bate may possibly be involved.
“Lewis is fit and well,” Jackson explained. “He has trained with the first-team back at Thorp Arch today. [So], he was unavailable to us for selection.
“He’s a player who has been performing well in the 23s and he has been training well, too. “He’s trained with the first-team today, so we will see what has come of that.”
Should Bielsa hand Bate his senior debut vs Leicester?
Bate left Chelsea having never managed a first-team game for the Stamford Bridge outfit. The England U20 international also only made three matchday squads in all competitions.
Bielsa is yet to name the youngster in any of his matchday squads, either. But Jackson’s comments would hint – what some fans expect – that Bate may be involved when Leeds host Leicester on Sunday.
Bate is leaving positive impressions on those at Thorp Arch and in Leeds’ U23s during their PL2 games under Jackson. He may now have a chance at some stage to do so under Bielsa.
The midfielder has contributed plenty of attacking moves and bursts of speed from deep that would work well under Bielsa. While adding more physicality to his game each week that will prove beneficial, once he makes his eventual senior debut.
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