Leeds United: Archie Gray named by Gareth Southgate in new Kobbie Mainoo admission
Leeds United midfielder Archie Gray has been namechecked by Gareth Southgate as a player who could step into the England senior squad in the event of injury.
The 18-year-old gem has been a key part of Daniel Farke’s side at Elland Road this season, impressing pundits and supporters alike with his performances both in the middle of the park and at right-back in the Championship.
While the teenager is expected to be a part of England’s under-20s side [Yorkshire Evening Post, 12 March], Southgate admitted that he has been impressed by Gray’s performances with the Whites this season.
Speaking in a press conference on Thursday (14 March) he said: “We obviously have contingency plans in every area of the pitch. Some of those would be U21s. There are some young players in the U21s who are doing exceptionally well, especially in midfield.
“The likes of Kobbie Mainoo, Rico [Lewis] was with us last time, Harvey Elliott, Archie Gray at Leeds is doing very, very well I have to say. There are a number of players in that group that we could move in, it’s most important that we have the depth with seniors first.”
Will Archie Gray remain at Leeds United beyond the summer transfer window?
It speaks volumes that Southgate dropped Gray’s name alongside young midfielders who are starting week in and week out for Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool. The teenager is held in that sort of regard.
The difference between the Leeds United gem and the other three midfielders named by the England boss is the fact that Gray starts week in and week out for Farke in a variety of different positions, albeit in the Championship rather than the Premier League.
Should Gray continue to kick on between now and the end of the season, Premier League teams and European giants will continue to weigh up a potential move for the 18-year-old however and it would be naive to assume that Leeds will be able to keep hold of him.
Hopefully, he’ll still be a Leeds player if and when he makes his England debut, but it is excellent to hear that Southgate has taken note of the teenager’s exceptional performance at Elland Road this season.
In other Leeds United news, the FA have been contacted over an “emergency” change involving Mateo Joseph’s international future
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