Leeds United legend Tony Dorigo will be keeping a keen eye on Archie Gray this season after being hugely impressed with the youngster on the club’s tour of Australia. Dorigo travelled with the Whites as an ambassador, spending plenty of time around the first-team squad and getting a good glimpse of the talent within it as Jesse Marsch’s side continued their preparations for the start of the Premier League campaign.
Gray was one of those who caught the former England international’s eye Down Under and while his game time was limited, Dorigo saw enough to understand the 16-year-old’s potential. The midfielder made two brief appearances in Queensland, stepping off the bench late in the second half against Brisbane Roar, before being stretchered off against Aston Villa following a hefty challenge by John McGinn.
Fortunately the injury was a minor one and he was an unused substitute against Crystal Palace in Perth. Despite his age, it seems Gray could have a role to play under Marsch this season and Dorigo will be watching his progress closely.
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“I think Archie has been superb,” the First Division title winner told Leeds Live. “To come on at his age of 16, you have to stop and pinch yourself and think ‘really, is he only 16?’.
“I interviewed him after the Brisbane game and I thought, ‘he can’t be 16’, he was answering all the questions perfectly. He’s a great lad and I think if anyone can handle being thrust in the limelight at 16, it’s Archie Gray, because of his dad, because of his grandparents and the footballing family around him. It’s a credit to them.
“He’s a player with a huge future, but at present he’s doing rather well.”
Having seen the club secure survival on the final day of last season, with a dramatic win at Brentford, Dorigo is hoping to see progress from Marsch’s Whites this time around, especially after such a busy summer in the transfer market.
“The first aim is always survival,” he added. “I think if you’re optimistic you’re looking at mid-table, but if you’re realistic you’re looking at a comfortable 13th or 14th.
“We’ve bulked up with more signings, we needed to make that squad bigger with more depth to it and that’s what we’ve done. Hopefully they can settle in quickly and then that target should be fine.”
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