Exclusive: Paul Robinson delivers verdict on Leeds youngster Pascal Struijk after 3-3 v Cardiff
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United…
Paul Robinson has said that Marcelo Bielsa isn’t afraid to stick youngsters in his senior side, but added that trusting Pascal Struijk to play at centre-back was “interesting”.
Struijk made his debut in the 2-0 win against Hull on Tuesday when he came on for the closing minutes.
He was also used in the game against Cardiff on Saturday, coming on for Gaetano Berardi, but it didn’t go so well for the youngster.
After being 3-0 up with 30 minutes to go, Leeds ended up drawing 3-3, with Struijk partly to blame for the final goal.
Talking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, Robinson said, “There’s always been a good bloodline coming through Leeds.
“The academy, the staff at the academy, the facilities there, the way the club’s always respected its academy and put emphasis on the academy.
“The recruitment has always been good and it’s always good to see young players coming through and because you’re in the Championship and the budgets aren’t always as big as the Premier League there is an emphasis, an onus, on providing your own players… Leeds are famed for doing that.
“Pascal Struijk is sitting at the top of the pile at the moment. But there is a real good crop of youngsters there ready to come through and with the manager having such a small squad and his attitude towards the youth, he’s not afraid to put them in there.
“I think if he had a problem at centre-back… putting trust in a youngster at that age, to put them straight in is interesting.”
West Brom leapfrogged Leeds on Saturday after they came from behind to beat Birmingham 3-2.
Leeds are still in a strong position, though, 11 points ahead of Preston in third, but have a huge game coming up next Saturday against promotion hopefuls Fulham.
A win there would put them straight back on the express elevator to the Premier League.
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