Leeds United’s youngsters play a key part as the Yorkshire club progress into the next round of the Carabao Cup

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Leeds United recently reached the fourth round of the Carabao Cup for the first time under Marcelo Bielsa, after beating Fulham 6-5 on penalties.

Fulham’s Santiago Muniz stepped up to the penalty spot and saw his decisive effort saved by Illan Meslier, who turned to face the Fulham faithful in celebration of his team’s successes. Of course, he was met by jeers, but he didn’t seem to care. He had just won a game, and that isn’t something Leeds have done much so far this season.

Whilst their Carabao Cup journey, though still early on, is progressing, the Yorkshire club have had a tough start in the Premier League this season. The Whites went winless in their first five games for the first time in the top flight since the 1946/47 season.

That being said, it doesn’t mean Leeds fans should be in a deep panic over the season their side will have. They will be because they have been conditioned into a state of consistent over-reaction through years of misfortune combined with high expectations, but there are definitely aspects to be considered.

For one, Leeds have had a fairly tough start to the season, having already faced Manchester United, Everton and Liverpool to name a few. Not only that, but they have struggled with injury woes so far this season, with even the likes of Patrick Bamford, who has seemed near impervious to injury over the last year or two, set to be on the sidelines for Leeds’ game against West Ham this Saturday.

It’s certainly a tough predicament that Leeds find themselves in. Though, whilst their Carabao Cup successes may be the only wins fans have been able to cheer for so far this campaign, it has highlighted something else, something far more important.

For so long, Leeds fans have raved about their under-23 side. They tore up the league last season, earning promotion to the Premier League 2 Division 1. Mark Jackson’s men play the same, distinctive style of football that Marcelo Bielsa has instilled into the senior side.

Bielsa has often been inclined to place some of that young regiment onto his bench in Premier League games. He has almost never seemed tempted to play any of them, which may be confusing to some. Maybe he wants them to gain experience, maybe he just needs to fill the bench but it’s not like Bielsa operates with a large squad.

Some younger players, such as Jamie Shackleton, have been used sparingly by Leeds. Others, like Charlie Cresswell, have only been seen once, maybe twice. Most though, despite their talent, had never been seen in a senior Leeds side. 

The current injuries to Leeds’ already thin roster caused Bielsa to finally pull the trigger and expose some of his youngsters to senior football. Was this before he would have wanted to ideally? Possibly but football is football and it is unpredictable to an infuriating extent.

In the game against Fulham, Bielsa named Charlie Cresswell, Jamie Shackleton and Crysencio Summerville in the starting lineup. Of course, there were still more young players, but the likes of Dan James and Illan Meslier have already tasted their fair share of upper echelon football.

The match kicked off, and it swiftly became apparent just how comfortable these youngsters were. Playing under Jackson meant they didn’t need to learn a new system, nor was their fitness impeding them. It was incredible to see Leeds’ cavalry show they were more than capable of being called upon, despite their tender ages.

As the game progressed, Bielsa too introduced Joe Gelhardt and Stuart McKinstry into the fold. Now, Leeds fans are highly supportive of their under-23’s as a whole, but there is perhaps no higher amount of collective support for anyone they had never seen play a senior game than Joe Gelhardt.

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The forward arrived from Wigan Athletic ahead of last season, a departure earmarked by the Latics’ financial misfortunes. Since then, he has torn the Premier League 2 Division 1 apart with his movement, relentless pressuring and lethal finishing ability.

Leeds fans have wanted to see him in the first team for months now, especially when you look at how lightly they are equipped at the striker position. In a moment of delight for both the player and the supporters, Gelhardt was able to make his senior debut against Fulham, as was the aforementioned McKinstry, a midfielder with composure and ability of a man far beyond his years.

The game finished in a stalemate and progressed into penalties. After Leeds’ senior players had stepped up for their attempts, with some scored and some missing, all attention turned to the youngsters and in particular Gelhardt and McKinstry. It’s probably fair to say that, given their age, it placed a far greater emotional investment into what was otherwise just a third-round shootout for Leeds. 

Did the players let the moment impact them? Of course not. Both scored their attempts, as cool as you’d like.

Though he didn’t take a penalty, let’s not just brush over Charlie Cresswell who seized his opportunity with both hands. Prior to this game, he had played against Hull City in the very same competition last season, a game in which he played quite poorly. In hindsight, it was a game he wasn’t ready for.

Against Fulham though, you’d have been forgiven for thinking Cresswell has been playing senior football for the last decade. Commanding in the air, comfortable with his passing, he played as though he was the ideal Bielsa centre-back. What made it better was that his confidence grew noticeably as the game went on.

He began weaving in and out of Fulham midfielders, gliding over the halfway line. Mere seconds later, and he’d be back in his defensive line, barking orders to those around him. As @LUFCDATA noted on Twitter, Cresswell completed 87 of the 104 passes he attempted, won 12 duels and 11 headers, whilst too completing four successful long passes. It was a phenomenal thing to watch.

Bielsa was clearly just as impressed with Cresswell as supporters were, and his recent comments have given the inclination that the young defender may well be in line for his first Premier League start. West Ham are a tough team to beat, there’s no denying that, but with Leeds’ current centre-back crisis, do they really have a choice?

When you whittle it down, Robin Koch and Diego Llorente are injured and Pascal Struijk is suspended following the Liverpool game. Who else could Bielsa really put there? Kalvin Phillips, yes, but it seems nonsensical to move the Englishmen from defensive midfield when in their ranks sits Cresswell, a defender who appears more ready than ever for a chance at Premier League football.

With the recent debut of Summerville against Newcastle and the blooding of the young guns against Fulham, something has been made very clear to Leeds United. Whilst they may well struggle with injuries yet again this season, they now have a full brigade of young and capable academy prospects, each of whom will be biting for a chance to shine on one of the biggest stages in domestic football.

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