Leeds United have taken 18-year-old central defender Ashton Hall on trial from non-league outfit Matlock Town, the Gladiators have confirmed.
Hall arrived at Thorp Arch at the start of the week and has been training with the U23 squad during a week-long trial, which included a full game with the U18s against Shrewsbury.
The teenager started the match on the right of a three-man backline before shifting to right-back for the second half, and his current boss Dave Frecklington noted: “He’d gone into the game off the cuff with just one training session with Leeds, so to step up and play so well with a totally new group of people was brilliant.”
Hall only made his senior debut for the Evo Stik Premier League club back in September, yet quickly impressed the management set-up with a supreme ability with the ball at his feet and is considered to possess potential far making it pro.
“He’s been fantastic for us but needs to go to a Football League club to enhance his development,” Frecklington added.
Matlock have a history of providing youth talents for professional outfits, as well, with Max Hunt and Zak Brunt making the step up with Derby County and Sheffield United in the last thirteen months respectively.
The likes of Ryan Edmondson and Sam Dalby have also arrived at Leeds from non-league clubs in recent times.