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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Marcelo Bielsa has made a habit of playing some of the rising stars within the Leeds United squad.
By last January, he’d handed first-team debuts to ten players under the age of 21.
That number has since risen with Mateusz Bogusz and Alfie McCalmont earning minutes in the first team this term.
That being said, there are still a number of young individuals banging on the door.
One of which happens to be Ryan Edmondson, a teenager who must be on the verge of gaining an opportunity.
On the chalkboard
Only this week Leeds saw Callum Nicell walk out of the exit door after his contract was mutually terminated.
Formerly an Academy Player of the Year at Thorp Arch, it may have been somewhat of a surprise that he left having not made a first-team appearance.
Featuring in squads under Garry Monk and Paul Heckingbottom, he didn’t actually receive minutes.
It’s worrying that he was allowed to seep through the net so easily but it’s a poignant reminder. If you don’t play your best young prospects, they’ll search for opportunities elsewhere.
For someone like Edmondson, this is unlikely to be too different.
He is one of the rising stars from Leeds’ academy and it’s a little bizarre he hasn’t been seen under Bielsa in 2019/20.
Leeds have a lack of depth in attack with Patrick Bamford and Eddie Nketiah so it’s certainly not out of the question that he could play second fiddle.
After all, the 18-year-old is making all the right noises.
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Against Tadcaster Albion in pre-season alongside a team that featured Ben White and Helder Costa, he netted a hat-trick.
The opposition may not have provided much quality during a 5-1 defeat but it provided evidence that he knows where the net is.
More recently, however, he’s earned his debut for England’s U19 side. Last Thursday he was given a flavour of international youth football as he netted in front of Gareth Southgate against Greece.
It was yet another loud knock on the door of Bielsa who must surely be casting his beady eyes on the promising striker who played once under the Argentine in the Championship last term.
Football Insider revealed this week that Leeds turned down loan offers for Edmondson in the summer. On that evidence, they must have plans to utilise him this season.
If that is the case, the Whites should start giving him chances to show what he can do, even if it’s just from the bench.
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