Leeds United: Phil Hay shares what Archie Gray did to catch Lee Carsley’s eye
Archie Gray’s performance against Chelsea in the FA Cup is what led to Lee Carsley selecting the Leeds United star in his England Under-21s squad, according to Phil Hay.
The 18-year-old, who has become a mainstay in Daniel Farke’s team, was named in the Three Lions’ U21s squad for the fixtures against Azerbaijan and Luxembourg on Friday 15 March.
While Gray also has Scottish heritage, the Whites’ star has risen through the England ranks and has taken one step closer to the senior team, and Hay believes he knows what made the U21s boss pick him.
Speaking via The Square Ball podcast on Friday (15 March), Hay said: “I wonder if, given he has been in the first team all the way through the season anyway, it was that performance at Chelsea that has made people in the England camp decide that it’s time to push him on now.”
Archie Gray’s performances for Leeds United have not gone unnoticed
Gray has quickly caught the eye of the football world after breaking into the first team at Leeds as a teenager this season and performing admirably in the Championship.
The versatile ace, who has proven adept in central midfield and right-back this season, has impressed massively under Daniel Farke and has, rightly so, been awarded a call-up to the England U21s squad by Carsley.
Though Gray has burst onto the scene for Leeds this season, he has been quietly rising through the England ranks, most recently earning his U20s debut in a 3-0 loss to Italy in November.
Some keen fans were suggesting that the Leeds star’s performances this season could warrant a spot in Gareth Southgate’s squad, but it does seem a little premature to promote him so high at the age of 18.
Hay is probably right in suggesting that his display against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge is what sealed Gray’s spot in the U21s, looking completely at ease against Blues midfield duo Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.
Especially under Farke, there is no telling how high Gray’s ceiling can reach. With many years until the youngster hits his peak, it is quite scary to think about how good he could be.
In other Leeds United news, David Prutton has shared his prediction for the Millwall clash at Elland Road.
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