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Joe Donnohue

Leo Hjelde and Lewis Bate on funny Leeds United duo, 'unbelievable' fans and sleep admission

Leeds United saw their seventh and eighth teenage Premier League debutants of the season take to the field during the 3-2 win over West Ham United earlier this month.

Lewis Bate and Leo Hjelde were unceremoniously summoned from the bench to replaced injured duo Adam Forshaw and Junior Firpo in the first half of that game.

Both players were signed in the summer, from Chelsea and Celtic respectively, and integrated initially with the U23 side.

While neither featured in the Whites' most recent league outing - a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United at Elland Road - the pair have been speaking to the club's media channel about their Premier League debuts, experiences of Leeds United fans so far and the difficulty of Marcelo Bielsa's training.

"Of course, playing in the Premier League is every player's dream from across the world, everyone knows it's the best league in the world. Especially representing Leeds in the Premier League, it's a special feeling," Bate said of his top flight bow.

"Even from outside Leeds, everyone knows the training's hard but the senior players have helped us through it every step of the way when we've needed help, and when we've been around the first-team they've guided and supported us," the ex-Chelsea midfielder added.

Chiming in, Leo Hjelde said: "A lot of the senior players came up to me on the first day and just told me: 'it will probably take you a couple of weeks to do all the drills and things but just settle in quickly and get to work.'"

Asked about the most influential characters in the senior dressing room, Bate and Hjelde answered unanimously: "Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas."

"Them two are the funniest, for sure," the Norwegian added with a smirk.

Referring back to their Premier League debuts, both players paid their dues to the travelling Leeds fans.

"For me it was absolutely crazy, when we scored the third goal as well, everyone was celebrating with the fans and you can just hear the noise. To be fair, it felt like the whole stadium was filled with Leeds fans because you couldn't really hear the West Ham fans so, it was just unbelievable," Hjelde said.

"It's the same wherever they go, to be honest with you," Lewis Bate interjected. "I remember being on the bench against Arsenal at home, we lost the game 4-1 but in the 90th minute we had about 30,000 singing 'We love Leeds' - I don't think it's like that at any other club, it's unique.

"They're always the loudest wherever they go and the most supportive. They're unbelievable," Bate added.

On training, Hjelde answered with refreshing honesty: "It's tough, I've never been used to training this hard before so when I came in it was a complete shock to the body and everything so I was probably sleeping after every training session - I was just knackered all the time.

"You get used to it, though, and right now it feels easier, I would say, but it's still very hard," he finished.

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