Charlie Cresswell aims to emulate Pascal Struijk for Leeds United
Leeds United Under-23s captain Charlie Cresswell is aiming to use Pascal Struijk as inspiration to force his way into the first team.
Cresswell, 18, made his senior Whites debut against Hull City in September 2020, but he was unable to force his way into the side again during the 2020/21 campaign.
But he led the young Whites to Premier League 2 (Division 2) success and he is now bidding to emulate 21-year-old Struijk, who made 27 Premier League appearances for Marcelo Bielsa’s side last season.
“Pascal has been brilliant this season, he has done amazing,” he told the Yorkshire Evening Post.
“All of the Academy boys here have just looked up to him and gone ‘wow’.
“If he can be given an opportunity like that in the Premier League then that is something for us to strive for too.
“He gives us all hope.”
Watch and learn
Struijk may have a few years on Cresswell but he’s certainly shown him how to rise up the ranks.
The Belgium-born defender barely featured in our Championship title-winning campaign in 2019/20, making just five appearances, but he started the first Premier League game of the subsequent season away to Liverpool and hasn’t looked back since.
He may not be a guaranteed starter but he’s always in contention for a spot in the Whites starting XI, either as a central defender or as a holding midfielder.
Struijk has come a long in way in such a short amount of time, and his development was helped massively by his role in the Under-23s side.
He was a regular in the 2018/19 side and helped them to win the Professional Development League before he eventually made his way into Bielsa’s thoughts.
Now Cresswell will be looking to make the same jump after his own success.
With so much strength in depth in central defence it seems unlikely Cresswell could force his way in next season, but after Struijk’s ascension, who knows.
Bielsa has certainly shown that he is not afraid to thrust young talents into the team if they are good enough.
In other Leeds United news, Jose Mourinho shares big Whites player claim on talkSPORT.