‘From what I’m hearing…’ – Phil Hay suggests never-before-seen player could earn Leeds debut
Ian Poveda was one of three players that Leeds United signed in January and, like the other two signings, he is yet to start a game for the Whites.
The 20-year-old was named on the bench for games against Millwall and Wigan but was not handed a debut by Marcelo Bielsa, who dropped the former Manchester City winger from his matchday squad after the defeat to the Latics.
Since then, Poveda has had to make do in Leeds’ Under-23s.
The young winger was certainly brought in as someone who Leeds will look to develop with the view to him playing a role in the future but it seems he could get a chance to star in the final games of this season, according to The Athletic journalist Phil Hay.
“From what I’m hearing, he’s looked good since the return to training – lively and in good shape,” wrote Hay in a live Q&A session on Friday night. “I wonder if we might see him involved, especially because of the increase in substitutes.”
It is definitely a good point.
Bielsa can make five substitutions in each of the club’s final nine games of the season and that may see Poveda get a chance to shine.
We don’t think he’ll play in any of the first three or four matches but if Leeds get promotion in the bag early, there’s a chance the England Under-20 international will play in the last couple of fixtures.
No one has seen Poveda in action for the senior side just yet but he’s a promising young talent and we would love to be able to see what he can do in the Championship.
In other Leeds United news, Dean Smith has responded to the latest Aston Villa controversy by moaning about Leeds – again.