Lewis Bate picks up injury in England U20s draw v Italy
Leeds United academy sensation Lewis Bate was the star of the show for England under-20’s in their 1-1 draw with Italy last night.
Sam Greenwood and Cody Drameh also starred over at Chesterfield, as the Whites trio caught the eye for their country.
Despite dominating the young Three Lions went behind, but it was Bate who scored the all-important equaliser for his country with Marcelo Bielsa present watching.
Graham Smyth was also present covering the game and reported what looks like a blow for both Leeds and Bate.
“Lewis Bate limping off with the help of two physios,” he wrote on Twitter. “Looked like ankle or foot was the issue.
“Lewis Bate out on the pitch at FT walking a little gingerly, but walking under his own steam.”
Blow.
Bielsa was present watching along, and he will have been delighted to see Bate pulling the strings and scoring the all-important equaliser.
This has come at the worst possible time for the former Chelsea sensation.
El Loco rarely speaks about under-23 talents in his squad but made a special exception for Bate last week as he clearly continues to impress the boss in training and in matches for the academy.
Midfield will always be a problem area until it is addressed in the window, with Stuart Dallas, Mateusz Klich and Kalvin Phillips our only available options.
There were big hopes for Adam Forshaw this season, but he is failing them once again and Bate looks set to jump ahead of him in the pecking order.
Hopefully, this injury isn’t too serious and he can get back to impressing Bielsa and pushing for a spot in the first-team squad sooner rather than later.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are confident of cut-price deal for January signing, player & family ready to move – report