Leeds United U23s' January transfer window addition Mateo Joseph has been named in a Premier League 2 squad for the first time this evening.
The young Whites take on Blackburn Rovers in PL2 Division 1, hoping to move clear of relegation trouble with three points at the Lancashire FA County Ground in Leyland.
Joseph was signed from Spanish side Espanyol at the beginning of the window and has spent the first three weeks at Leeds United getting up to speed and integrating with the U23 squad.
The 18-year-old has been named on the bench for tonight's fixture against Rovers' U23s.
In the starting XI, centre-forward Max Dean retains his place ahead of new addition Joseph. Dean scored a 25-yard effort against Wigan Athletic at the Lancashire FA County Ground less than two weeks ago as Leeds' U23s defeated the Latics' U23s 2-1 in the Premier League Cup.
The youngsters have been depleted in recent weeks due to several U23 players being needed in first-team affairs.
However, with two weeks until the next first-team fixture, U23s head coach Mark Jackson has been able to name a strong line-up to face Blackburn.
Back-up goalkeeper to Illan Meslier, Kristoffer Klaesson is involved in between the posts, while recent Premier League debutant Leo Hjelde starts in defence.
Nohan Kenneh, Jeremiah Mullen and Kris Moore also feature at the back, with Liam McCarron playing further forward than has often been the case this season.
Jack Jenkins and Lewis Bate start in midfield, with Stuart McKinstry and Amari Miller who were both included in the travelling squad for Leeds' Premier League fixture with Newcastle United last weekend.
Leeds United U23s XI: Klaesson, McKinstry, Moore, Hjelde, Kenneh, Mullen, Miller, Jenkins, Dean, Bate, McCarron
Subs: Van den Heuvel, Gray, Joseph, McGurk
