Adam Pope stunned by Lewis Bate for Leeds U21s v Oldham
Leeds United under-21s got their first-ever win in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night, beating Oldham 3-2 in a thriller.
Mark Jackson named a number of academy stars pushing to catch the eye of the senior side, with Crysencio Summerville the biggest name.
Adam Pope singled out another young player though, as he was left stunned by midfield summer signing Lewis Bate.
Writing on his personal Twitter account, Pope singled out the midfielder as one to watch at Elland Road this season.
“Very impressive at times – Bate looks a right player but the intensity and pressure applied by the whole team has been a joy,” he wrote.
“But saying that – Bate, Wow.”
History.
Andrea Radrizzani has made the academy one of his real priorities since arriving at Elland Road nearly five years ago.
Taking the club to a status one academy once again was a huge stage, and that saw the young Whites enter this competition to play senior League One and Two sides.
After a dismal first year in the competition, it has brought real success this week, with this entertaining win our first at this level.
Bate is one of those who is really taking advantage of the opportunity, and Marcelo Bielsa will be delighted with that.
Midfield is a real problem area right now at Elland Road, with no real rotation options behind Kalvin Phillips, Stuart Dallas and Mateusz Klich.
The latter two were knackered against West Ham on Saturday, and could Bate be that man to come off the bench if needed in the near future? It looks likely.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are set to double wages of player after mega-money development this week – report