Marcelo Bielsa has blooded a range of our academy prospects into the first-team this season, and club icon Noel Whelan has told Football Insider that he expects Ryan Edmondson to get his chance next.
The 17-year-old has made two senior appearances to date, but only one has come since the boss arrived at Elland Road, and Edmondson has not been seen in a Championship matchday squad since October.
A lack of first-team opportunities has left the promising forward plying his trade with our successful U23s managed by Carlos Corberan, with whom he scored nine goals in the Professional Development League.
His strikes were integral to the young Whites’ title-clinching campaign, but a promotion has not yet been on the cards, despite the progress seen from Jack Clarke and Jamie Shackleton while working under Bielsa.
Whelan, however, expects Edmondson to be the next prospect through the door into the first-team.
“I’m going to go with the striker’s union and say Edmondson,” he told Football Insider. “He’s had a taste of it, I’ve seen him play, great stature to him – big strong boy – but not just because of his size.
“He can play and that’s one good thing about him, he’s not just an out ball to flick on. He likes it to the chest, he likes to bring the ball down, he likes to run on, got good pace, got energy but the boy can finish.
“Unfortunately, we have two players in Kemar Roofe and Patrick Bamford that he has to get past first, but he’s certainly not let himself down this season when he has been called up to the first-team, and he’s certainly not let himself down for the U23s. If he keeps going in the same direction, then he could find himself being the next best thing at Leeds United.”