Leeds United fans were impressed with what they saw from 18-year-old Sam Greenwood when the Under-23s side won 3-2 against Aston Villa on Sunday.
Leeds went top of Premier League 2 Division 2 after coming from behind to beat the Villans at Thorp Arch.
Marcelo Bielsa had given the green light for a number of senior players to feature at Thorp Arch with Pablo Hernandez, Pascal Struijk, Ian Poveda and Tyler Roberts all involved.
And while it was Roberts who scored a match-winning penalty kick in the 72nd minute, it was Greenwood who had fans purring on social media.
As per the LeedsLive matchday blog, Ben Parker and Tom Hill, who were on commentary on LUFC TV, said that Greenwood was their man of the match and it seems that fans who watched would have said the same.
Here is a selection of their tweets:
U23s being very entertaining! Pablo looks sharp. Greenwood’s going to be a star.
— GunneyFM (@CarolGunney) December 13, 2020
Greenwood has been magnificent in the no.8 role. A forward traditionally, he's adapted very well. Gelhardt getting involved in the rough and tumble of midfield, Jenkins playing well in the holding role. Injury time now.
— The Modern Game (@The_ModernGame) December 13, 2020
Surely same Greenwood is worth a place on the bench, hes the best finisher at the club, would nick a few of the bench the chances we make
— Kallum hunt (@Kallumhunt88) December 13, 2020
Really enjoying seeing Greenwood in midfield. Assumed his quality was strictly about movements off the shoulder and god-given goal insticts, but actually, he has quite a bit more to him than that. #LUFC
— ETHAN (@EthanFromOnline) December 13, 2020
Geldardt and Greenwood would both be more effective than Roberts.
— James Hollingworth (@JimmyHol84) December 13, 2020
Greenwood should be ahead of Roberts in the race of 1st team bench
— SUNPRIT POOJARY (@SunpritRP) December 13, 2020
A lot of talk around Joffy this season (rightly so) but Sam Greenwood is also looking like really good business. Has that natural goal scoring ability but is such a versatile player. Mentioned it before but the fact he's so good with either foot allows..
— FocusOnLeeds (@FocusOnLeeds) December 13, 2020
Greenwood needs to take Roberts' place on the bench. Roberts needs to be loaned out, best for him.
— Lee (@LufcLee_) December 13, 2020
Since joining Leeds from Arsenal in the summer, Greenwood has been in outstanding form for the Under-23s.
The England Under-18 international, who arrived as a striker but has been playing in midfield lately, has netted six goals in his seven Premier League 2 appearances for the Whites’ Under-23s.
Getting himself on the scoresheet against Villa’s Under-23s was a huge boost for the youngster because Tom Heaton was standing in goals when he struck his penalty kick into the bottom corner.
It seems that playing against top Premier League-quality players doesn’t faze Greenwood one bit.
Bielsa has no problem with calling young players up from the Under-23s to help pad out his senior squad and while we don’t envisage Greenwood getting promoted any time soon, it’s definitely something that’s on the cards for the future.
In other Leeds United news, Graeme Souness has made an outrageous claim about this Whites ace.
