Daniel Farke set to hand Archie Gray Leeds United first-team debut against Cardiff City
Daniel Farke has “paved the way” for Archie Gray to receive his first-team debut for Leeds United in the season opener against Cardiff City, according to Beren Cross.
The journalist wrote on the Leeds Live website Wednesday (2 August) that after four preseason appearances in which the 17-year-old has “thrived in game-controlling roles” the midfielder is in line to see his first senior action for the club in the Championship opener on Sunday (6 August).
The manager is reportedly “not getting carried” away, having stopped short of explicitly committing to the debut, but the coast is now clear for the academy product to make the step up after a “visible growth spurt”.
Phil Hay called the teenager “physically amazing” and compared him to Manchester City star Erling Haaland on The Square Ball on 7 July despite his young age, and he has impressed since then.
With Tyler Adams injured and all three of his senior teammates from last season now gone there is only Gray, fellow youngster Darko Gyabi, and £7million signing from Chelsea Ethan Ampadu available in the middle for the visit of the Bluebirds to Elland Road.
Good enough is old enough
With the scarcity of other options, and after Gray by most accounts overtook Gyabi through the preseason, then he surely features at least off the bench.
Farke would surely have liked to have a lot more incoming business done already this summer, but his transfer budget isn’t as big as was hoped thanks to so many players leaving on loan.
Ampadu looks set to be key even if Adams stays so was a good start in the market, but surely another midfield signing is the manager’s wish list if there is time and money available.
But unless that happens it is hard to see how Farke looks any further than Gray to kick off the new campaign, so the growth spurt that has so impressed Hay has come at just the right time.
Sam Greenwood was used in midfield on occasion last season, but it is tempting to forget about most of what happened in that area during the previous doomed campaign.
Gyabi will get a look in as well, but unless the Whites boss gets cold feet over putting opening day pressure on a player so young and inexperienced Gray seems in pole position to work with Ampadu.
In other Leeds United news, a key exit-linked Elland Road star is now “leaning towards” staying for a year in the second tier.