Although Leeds United have handed eight Premier League debuts to teenagers this season, Marcelo Bielsa’s use of youth does not seem to be aligning with the board’s vision.
Victor Orta, Angus Kinnear and company have placed a huge emphasis on academy recruitment since promotion to the Premier League, acquiring some of England and even Europe’s best young talent.
The likes of Joe Gelhardt and Lewis Bate were all interesting several other clubs before Leeds won the race for their signatures – showing just how much of a coup it was to prise them to West Yorkshire.
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It is clear that in order to secure their signings, the board will have highlighted a clear pathway into the first team, but even with Leeds’ injury issues this season, minutes aren’t arriving as regularly as they should be.
In January, Leeds opted against strengthening an already small squad, with Kinnear citing in his matchday programme notes prior to the game against Newcastle United that they did not want to block the young players’ development.
In Gelhardt’s case, he has scored one goal, registered one assist, and won two penalties in just 312 minutes of Premier League football this season.
The 19-year-old, though, has been an unused substitute in both of Leeds’ last two matches, despite the lack of fit recognised striker in Bielsa’s ranks.
Tyler Roberts has often been the preferred options off the bench in recent weeks, but he has just two goals and three assists in 48 appearances since promotion.
While statistics are not the be all and end all in football, there is little evidence to suggest he is a better option at present than Gelhardt.
Bielsa’s loyalty to players is one of many factors which make him such a unique manager, however it also important to trust emerging talents, too.
Roberts is clearly lacking confidence in his ability right now, and persistently putting him in the firing line is doing no good for either him, or the team.
Minutes are ultimately the most important thing behind a young players’ development – as has been evident in the likes of Jacob Ramsey, Anthony Gordon and Kieran Dewsbury-Hall’s improvement at other clubs this season.
But, at the moment, Gelhardt and co are not even getting that in the under 23s. He has not been named in any of Mark Jackson’s last five PL2 squads, meaning he has played just 10 minutes of football since New Year’s Day.
While first team training and matchday involvement are also helpful, a footballer’s bread and butter is game time. If they can’t get it at Elland Road, then they may look elsewhere.
That is a problem that Leeds can ill afford, particularly if they do not possess the spending power other Premier League clubs do.
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