Raphinha availability means Summerville has to wait for Leeds United PL debut
Crysencio Summerville may be gutted after learning that Raphinha is set to be available for Leeds United vs Liverpool on Sunday.
According to a report in LeedsLive, Summerville had drawn plenty of calls for selection after Raphinha’s supposed absence from the squad.
It was also understood that Marcelo Bielsa had his eyes on the 19-year-old as he was weighing up alternatives for the Brazilian, but the teenager may now have to wait before he makes his Premier League debut.
According to The Times’ Paul Joyce, Brazil waived their restriction, making Raphinha eligible to play again.
Summerville, who has been killing it for the Under-23s, had a very good chance of making the squad and probably even getting some minutes, if not a start against Liverpool.
Recently, he was impressive in a game against the Crystal Palace Under-23s which saw Leeds Live writing rave reviews about him.
They wrote, “A typically electric 45-minute stint from Summerville which saw him score the opening goal. Blitzed past Palace players rendered helpless by the Dutchman’s speed.”
Knowing Bielsa, he rarely throws his new signings straight into the starting eleven, meaning Dan James could’ve been behind Summerville in the pecking order for this one.
The Dutchman impressed a great deal for the Under-23s last season, scoring six and assisting six in 12 Premier League 2 games – averaging a goal involvement less than every 90 minutes.
Even this season, he’s scored two in only 134 minutes of action, which suggests that he’s improving on his numbers from last season and could soon be knocking on the manager’s door for a first-team berth.
While the Premier League is a completely different ball game, he’s done enough at the youth stage to prove he’s ready to be tried at the senior level.
Hopefully, we see a bit of Summerville in the coming weeks, if not the Liverpool clash, as he’s one for the future and a name that will excite the Elland Road faithful for years to come.
In other Leeds United news, Kalvin Phillips continues to impress as he sets yet another Leeds United record