Charlie Crew to be in Leeds United squad v Norwich City despite FA Youth Cup final
Dan Bardell sees no reason why Charlie Crew shouldn’t be allowed to play in the FA Youth Cup final on Friday (10 May) despite Leeds United facing Norwich City on Sunday (12 May) in the playoffs.
The Whites have made it to the Youth Cup final for the first time since 1997, where Manchester City await them.
Crew is a standout for the youth side but has also made the first-team bench regularly this season.
There was a question of Daniel Farke blocking him from playing in the final ahead of the Norwich clash.
Sky Sports and talkSPORT journalist Bardell has suggested that he is more than capable of playing a part in both and should be afforded an opportunity in the final.
Speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, Bardell said: “I say play him. He can operate and do both, I don’t see why he wouldn’t be allowed to do both.
“Charlie Crew has got a good future and has been involved at first-team level but I think he should still do his academy stuff. Let him be part of that team.
“It’s a team he’s grown up in and been a big part of so there’s a world where he can comfortably do both.
“He’s not going to start for Leeds [v Norwich] so he’ll do his job on Friday (10 May) and then be in the squad on Saturday (11 May).”
Charlie Crew set for Leeds United FA Youth Cup clash
After joining Leeds in 2022, Crew has gone on to prove himself as one of the most promising players at the club.
This has sparked praise from star man Crysencio Summerville in recent weeks for his performances in first-team training.
At 17-years-old he has regularly made the bench under Farke since the turn of the year but is yet to make a league appearance.
Given that his teammates rate him so highly it is no surprise that he is pushing for his first minutes in the first team.
He is a deep-lying playmaker who is great with the ball at his feet which has seen him even captain Wales at youth level.
He should be afforded the chance to play in the Youth Cup final. Crew has played a great part of the team that has made it there and could be the difference in winning the trophy or not.
In other Leeds news, Championship golden boot winner Sam Szmodics offers his play-off prediction.
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