There’s been a change of tack at Leeds United this season when it comes to the progression and development of their best and most promising young players. Under Marcelo Bielsa, Leeds appeared somewhat reluctant to entertain loan moves for those on the fringes of the first-team squad.
It’s not hard to see why, either, given the small group of senior players Bielsa had to work with. He knew opportunities for game time would crop up for the likes of Crysencio Summerville, Charlie Cresswell and Joe Gelhardt and the more time they spent working under him and within his system, the more likely they were to take them.
His use of youth players cannot be faulted either as the Argentine took interest and pride in their growth at Thorp Arch. That’s not to say youngsters didn’t leave Leeds on loan on Bielsa’s watch because plenty did, but more often than not, if they were included in the first-team picture, they stayed.
