Dan James believes Leeds United youngster Archie Gray has the talent required to one day reach the very top of the game. Gray has been welcomed into the first-team environment by Jesse Marsch and, although he is yet to make a competitive first-team appearance, there is plenty of excitement surrounding the 16-year-old.
The midfielder has been taken to Australia as part of the club’s pre-season tour and he stepped off the bench to play the final 10 minutes of the club’s 2-1 win over Brisbane Roar at the Cbus Super Stadium in Gold Coast. He impressed in that cameo, too, throwing himself around and looking to pull the strings from a play-making position.
Marsch has spoken on several occasions about the youngster and it seems he has made quite the impression on his team-mates, too.
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“Archie is a great lad,” James said when about the youngster at a fan event in Brisbane on Friday. “The ability he's got is something that he can take to be one of the best players in the Premier League if not the world.
“He’s still 16 I think he is, absolutely crazy. He's got obviously still to a lot to grow and grow into his own body. His ability is something I've not seen a young person before, he can go on and do top things.
“He's got the right people around him. He's a great addition to the squad and what I'm surprised about the most is his confidence. I remember when I was 16 I was so scared being in the first-team, but he just takes it in his stride.
“Everything he does, he talks to everyone, he's great lad, he works hard as well and he just wants to learn and that's the best trait in a footballer and I’m sure he’ll go on to do great things.”
Gray started in the club’s pre-season clash against Blackpool at the LNER Community Stadium in York last week and he is expected to pick up more minutes Down Under with friendlies against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace still to come.
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