Leeds United fans are delighted by the news that Under-23s ace Niall Huggins has agreed a new two-and-a-half-year contract with the club.
The Whites confirmed via their official Twitter account on Friday morning that Huggins, 19, has agreed fresh terms after an impressive start to the season with the Under-23s.
The Wales youth international’s previous deal was due to expire at the end of the campaign so getting him tied down to a new deal until 2023 is a good move by the Yorkshire giants.
✍️ #LUFC are pleased to announce Niall Huggins has signed a new contract until the summer of 2023
— Leeds United (@LUFC) December 4, 2020
Huggins has played six times in Premier League 2 for Leeds’ Under-23s this season, featuring as both a left-back and a left-winger [transfermarkt].
He also played in the EFL Trophy when Leeds’ Under-21s were beaten 3-0 by Blackpool last month.
Although Huggins is yet to play for Marcelo Bielsa’s first-team at Leeds, fans are excited by the young Welsh prospect.
Some have tipped him to make the step up to the senior squad at some point in the future while one even compared the 19-year-old to Elland Road legend Trevor Cherry as he’s a left-back who prefers his right foot.
Here is a selection of their tweets:
Excellent news. I've watched the U23s a few times and Niall's always impressed. Reminds me a bit of Trevor Cherry as a left back who prefers his right foot, but he also has the Terry Cooper way of dropping his shoulder and beating his man. Hope he continues his development.
— Bernie Baldwin (@BernieBaldwin) December 4, 2020
Another tremendous prospect, looks very accomplished in the u23's.
— Philip Darley (@PhilipDarley1) December 4, 2020
Great news! Looks class with the U23s
— Katie (& sometimes Rich) Kins 🤘🏻 (@TeamKins) December 4, 2020
Top boy this lad, gonna be a serious player https://t.co/6TWPav2tAo
— Callum (@Callum_192) December 4, 2020
Fantastic….been watching the progress of Niall for years…..hard work pays off. 🇮🇨 ❤ https://t.co/odJ60rXRFV
— Dave Chapman (@DaveChapman1919) December 4, 2020
Well done to the Board.Another quality young player locked down to a new deal.👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
— Black star white🇬🇭🇬🇧 (@Ghanabeleeds) December 4, 2020
He has been super for 23's, wouldn't be surprised to see him in a first team squad this season.
— Aidan Nelis (@NelisAidan) December 4, 2020
Very good player, good competition between him and Davis for the LB spot
— Lewis Cawood (@cawood7l) December 4, 2020
Congratulations Niall
The future is bright!— nigel stanley (@nigelLUFC) December 4, 2020
Baller🔥
— ColemanLUFC (@ColemanLUFC) December 4, 2020
We don’t want to hype up young players too much but Leeds have a great bunch of young players in the Under-23s side at the moment.
Huggins can play anywhere on the left-flank so his versatility is something that will boost his chances of breaking into the first-team in the future but Bielsa does have plenty of options there as it stands.
Stuart Dallas, Ezgjan Alioski and Leif Davis are all going to be ahead of Huggins in the pecking order so the Welsh teenager might have to bide his time.
In other Leeds United news, Bielsa has responded to a question about his relationship with Frank Lampard.
