Archie Gray will benefit from Leeds United transfer news after fitness twist
Leeds United gem Archie Gray will benefit from the new arrivals of Glen Kamara and Ilia Gruev at Elland Road, as the club look to enhance his future development.
Gray has started each of Leeds’ first seven games of the season in midfield, playing different roles as a deeper-lying midfielder and also as more of a creative number ten as he has displayed consistently impressive performances under Daniel Farke.
Now, though, Leeds must be careful to utilise him correctly to get the best out of his key developmental years, with the arrivals of Kamara and Gruev the key to his future progression.
News emerged recently [Phil Hay, 2 September] that Leeds have opted to withdraw Gray from international duty with the England Under-19s squad because of a minor fitness concern. This decision is proof that Leeds will take their time and make sure they make the best decisions for the future of Gray’s career.
Starting so many games at just 17 years old is an incredibly impressive achievement, but the club will have to be careful that they don’t place too much demand on the shoulders of their star talent.
The incoming signings of Kamara and Gruev will allow Gray some rest when needed, while also allowing for rotation so that he gets the game time he has earned since Farke arrived at the club.
New concerns around his fitness will have emerged from the highly demanding run of fixtures he has featured in early this season. His place in the team was initially given out of necessity, with little cover in the middle of the park, but he made the spot his own before too long.
However, overworking him will only lead to issues further along the line, as has been seen with star players of the past – the likes of Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney particularly spring to mind, while Marcus Rashford may present himself as a more recent example.
The Manchester United forward had struggled with recurring injuries until recently due to the high demand placed on him by the club since he made his debut as an 18-year-old, and that will be something Leeds are keen to avoid.
Ultimately, the fitness of Gray is of paramount importance at his young age. His withdrawal from international duty and the arrival of new options for rotation show that Leeds are handling their role in his development perfectly.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay has shared the transfer joke made by Daniel Farke on deadline day.