Forshaw returns to action as impressive Leeds United U23s make first-team auditions

Adam Forshaw made his first appearance in 21 months last night as a youthful Leeds United team triumphed over a tough-tackling, combative Guiseley.

With this match starting a run of four games in five days, it was no surprise to see a team largely comprised of u23 players take to the field at Nethermoor park this Tuesday night.

It has also been the case when these teams have met in the past with Ryan Edmondson, now on loan at Fleetwood, being a strong performer when Leeds triumphed 4-3 in 2018.

This time it was players like Charlie Cresswell – son of former Leeds United favourite Richard Cresswell – and Crysencio Summerville who would capture the eye, as Marcelo Bielsa watched on thoughtfully from the away dugout.

It was a damp day in Guiseley, and the fifteen-minute delay to kickoff did nothing to ease the excitement of Leeds fans seeing their team, however inexperienced, take to the field in front of supporters for only the second time since March last year.

Rapturous applause broke out as Joe Gelhardt and co stepped out of the tunnel, this was a team that had captured the imagination of supporters with its domination of the PL2 last year, and the reception the players received exhibited that fact for all to see.

The biggest cheer though was for Marcelo Bielsa, who made a surprise appearance, considering that it had been announced that Mark Jackson would be taking charge of the team for the match.

Bielsa is known to insist that the younger teams replicate his style of play, and thus he must have allowed himself a small grin as Mark Jackson’s team immediately set themselves up in a 3-1-3-3 formation to counteract Guiseley’s front two of Bailey Thompson and Kaine Felix.

Felix had been a real handful for Leeds last time the teams met and would need to be marshalled effectively by the youthful backline of Charlie Cresswell, Nohan Kenneh and Cody Drameh.

Guiseley had the better of the early exchanges, with Felix being the first to test Elia Caprile in the Leeds goal.

Amari Miller was making his first appearance in a Leeds shirt following his summer move from Birmingham City and, though he obviously needed more time to bed in with the movement and pressing of the complex Leeds United system, the young winger showed his competence with the ball at his feet with his constant dribbling done the Leeds left.

Crysencio Summerville was the man on the other wing, and he was the man to stop for Guiseley, his dribbling ability was genuinely frightening and it was no surprise that the young Dutch winger was the one who created the first goal.

It came through a nice Joe Gelhardt pass into the area, and Summerville skipping past two men before being felled inside the area by a reckless challenge.

Summerville himself stepped up to take it and converted with aplomb, sending the ‘keeper the wrong way without hesitation.

A nice flowing counter-attack then got the home team back level, with Bailey Thompson converting a Felix cut-back, but the young travelling side showed admirable determination to take control of the match again.

Sam Greenwood has made a name for himself as a free-kick specialist over the season just gone and was obviously licking his lips when Leeds’ strong dribbles began their assault on the Lions’ backline.

Free-kick after free-kick was won, but it was the fourth one in quick succession that was finally converted by the former Sunderland man. A delightful effort over the wall and into the top left-hand corner.

Half-time came and went, and injuries to Joe Gelhardt and Liam McCarron granted game time to Max Dean and Kris Moore.

And then, finally, it was time for Forshaw to enter the fray.

The midfielder had been in the form of his life early in Leeds’ promotion season, only to pick up a slight knock that simply wouldn’t go away.

Two years and a coronavirus pandemic have passed since, and it was truly heartwarming to see the positive reaction amongst Leeds and Guiseley fans alike as Forshaw entered the fray.

There was still time for a few more goals. Charlie Allen was signed as a 15-year-old from Linfield last season and it is a true reflection of his ability that he finds himself involved with the u23s at such a tender age. He was able to convert the easiest goal of his career so far following great play down the right from Drameh and Summerville before Hay got one back for the home team.

The game ended 3-2 to Leeds and Cresswell, Drameh and Summerville were the real standouts for the young team. With only Luke Ayling being ahead of Drameh in the pecking order as the senior right-back, and Leeds apparently eyeing up a winger in the transfer market, Drameh and Summerville will be the two eyeing up a few appearances this season. In Cresswell though, Leeds have a truly intimidating leader and defender at this level, he will have his breakthrough soon enough.

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