Whilst you can’t read too much into pre-season games, it’s always nice when your team comes out on top.
That was the case for Leeds United last night as they ran out 5-0 winners at Bootham Crescent against York City.
There was, as always, the usual stuff you see after a pre-season victory, like people declaring Leeds are going to win the league based off a game against a National League North team, or screaming ‘announce Champions League’. Stuff that wasn’t funny when it was invented, and certainly isn’t funny now.
In amongst all that though, one player came in for enormous amounts of praise and attention, some of it before the game even started.
Alfie McCalmont is seen as one of the more talented prospects in the Leeds academy and is already making waves at the international level, having played five times for the Northern Ireland U19’s and getting a goal against Kazakhstan U19 last November.
So after his performance last night, Leeds fans took to Twitter to express their joy that Marcelo Bielsa is keeping faith in academy players by giving the young ones a chance to impress him in pre-season games, with some believing that he’s ready for a crack at the first team next season.
Alfie McCalmont.
Nailed on breakthrough star of this season (not including Big Shack ofc). #lufc https://t.co/qEeLnKbhvO
— Daryl (@DarylRS29) July 10, 2019
Alfie McCalmont looks mint
— Lucas Gibson (@LucasG1998) July 10, 2019
Alfie McCalmont showing he might have something to offer the first team this season.
— Alex forward (@forwardLUFC) July 10, 2019
Alfie mccalmont by the way ????✅
— John Slicer (@JohnSlice80) July 10, 2019
Already planting the “Phillips ready made replacement” seed I see…
— cal (@callumlufc87) July 10, 2019
Alfie Mccalmont is a touch of class in that position – if Phillips does go, he’s already ready to step up.
— Adam Graver (@adamgraver) July 10, 2019
McCalmont was fantastic.. in the CDM role tho????
— Liam Collins (@liamcollins97) July 10, 2019
Alfie mccalmont by the way ????✅
— John Slicer (@JohnSlice80) July 10, 2019