Leeds United teenager Ronaldo Vieira has excelled this season.
Leeds United have excelled under Garry Monk this season, and are in contention for a play-off spot after a superb run of form.
The Whites have seen Monk stabilise the club after two chaotic years with Massimo Cellino at the helm, with the former Swansea City boss bringing in a host of impressive new signings.
Players like Luke Ayling, Kyle Bartley, Pontus Jansson and Hadi Sacko have starred since their summer moves, whilst Monk has also continued the Leeds tradition of blooding players from the youth academy.
General view inside the Elland Road
The pick of the bunch so far has been midfielder Ronaldo Vieira, who produced mature displays far beyond his 18 years of age having been made a first-team regular by manager Monk.
Vieira, who had been on the books at Benfica before joining Leeds in 2015, has racked up 19 appearances this season, and the teenager – who can play for England, Guinea-Bissau and Portugal – has become a key part of Monk’s midfield.
Liverpool’s Georginio Wijnaldum in action with Leeds’ Ronaldo Vieira
An energetic midfielder with a combative edge, it’s sometimes hard to believe that Vieira is just 18, and he should be a player that Monk builds his midfield around for years to come, meaning the likes of Eunan O’Kane and Liam Bridcutt will have to work hard to get into Monk’s midfield.
Leeds will be desperate to keep hold of Vieira having lost former youth graduates Sam Byram and Lewis Cook in 2016, with Newcastle United scouting Vieira according to The Chronicle, but the youngster seems settled, and will want to repay Leeds’ faith in him.
Other players like Charlie Taylor and Kalvin Phillips deserve a mention, but the performances of 18-year-old Vieira have been little short of exceptional – and he subsequently deserves to be considered as Leeds’ Young Player of the Year.
Manager’s verdict
“He’s so mature for his age. You saw it from the first minute to the 91st minute. He was brushing someone aside in the 91st minute and he’s developing nicely,” Monk told the Yorkshire Evening Post after a 2-0 home win over Reading. “He’s listening. He’s got ability and he knows that but he’s critical of himself. Because he listens he’s growing all the time. I took a good look at the group when I came in, the Under-23s and the 18s. I felt we could do something with him and we can all see the potential he has. It’s just about bringing it out of him,” he added.
What have you thought of Vieira’s performances this season?
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