It’s been a long old road back for one Leeds United youngster but he got back on the pitch in Tuesday’s youth game against York City.
19-year-old left back Matthew Downing has been slowly and diligently working his way back to fitness following more than 19 months out on the sidelines with a serious injury.
The Academy product was incredibly highly rated by our youth setup and he was named out Apprentice of the Year back in 2016, having made his Under 21 debut aged only 16.
Downing was part of the same crop of youngsters as Tom Pearce and Bailey Peacock-Farrell but now, slowly, he’ll be hoping to make up for lost time and get himself back in peak condition so he can kick on in his career once again.
Been a long 19 and a half months out but absolutely buzzing to get back on the pitch today at York City. Huge thanks to all my family, friends, teammates and all the staff @LUFC for helping me through this tough period, onwards and upwards! pic.twitter.com/t93NptNxsQ
— Matthew Downing (@MatthewDownin14) September 18, 2018
For those who follow our youngsters far more closely, the next big step will be regular appearances for Carlos Corberan’s Under 23 group again and hopefully, he’s a name we see a little bit more of next season as he blows the cobwebs off in the remainder of 2018/19.
Cheers mate hope ur well????????????????
— Matthew Downing (@MatthewDownin14) September 19, 2018
Cheers Katie!!
— Matthew Downing (@MatthewDownin14) September 18, 2018
Cheers Jodie????
— Matthew Downing (@MatthewDownin14) September 19, 2018
Cheers Stanners????????
— Matthew Downing (@MatthewDownin14) September 18, 2018
Joker! Cheers Pokes????????
— Matthew Downing (@MatthewDownin14) September 18, 2018
Well done lad. Onwards & upwards ????????
— Turd Ferguson (@DLDST1tman) September 18, 2018
Made up for you can be a very lonely place out injured esp when others are doing so well let’s hope you can kick on now and make up for lost time ????????????????
— Kenneth Roy Brown (@kennybrown1964) September 18, 2018