Lewis Bate was not promised first-team football at Leeds United this season – Phil Hay
Phil Hay has cast doubt upon whether Lewis Bate will get into the Leeds United first-team this season despite his impressive performances for Mark Jackson’s side.
While playing for a Leeds Under-21s team on Tuesday night, 19-year-old Bate scored in a 5-3 EFL Trophy defeat away to League Two club Salford City.
Marcelo Bielsa’s struggled for midfield options this season due to injuries and the idea of Bate getting a call-up to the senior squad has been mooted by fans.
However, The Athletic journalist Hay has already reported that Joe Gelhardt was handed a full season in the Leeds Under-23s to get up to speed for Bielsa and while that may not also apply for Bate, the summer signing from Chelsea hasn’t been promised senior action.
“Bate, as a different example, wasn’t promised any first-team football this season when he signed (but was happy to sign regardless),” said Hay on Twitter on Tuesday night after the defeat in Salford.
“He looks very gifted. Lovely passer.”
Time to shine
If you’re ready then you’re ready.
Bate will have left Chelsea in the summer knowing that he had greatly improved his chances of getting first-team football at Leeds United.
He must be sat there at the moment thinking to himself about how well he’s playing for the Under-23s and Under-21s while Bielsa struggles to put together a midfield in the senior side.
Pascal Struijk, Adam Forshaw and Tyler Roberts are all being played in the midfield right now and Bate is putting in dazzling display after dazzling display for the Whites’ youth sides.
Bate is a great passer of the ball and as shown on Tuesday night, he also has an eye for a goal.
Instead of trying to jam circle pieces into square holes or handing chance after chance to players who continually frustrate and let you down, isn’t it time for some fresh blood?
We needed a midfield signing or two in the summer but look at Bate, the answer to our problem is almost literally sat underneath Bielsa’s nose.
Come on, Marcelo. Let us see what he’s made of against Leicester at Elland Road on Sunday – even if it’s an appearance off the bench.
In other Leeds United news, Bielsa clearly influenced Jackson’s in-game decisions on Tuesday with this player prime to star versus Leicester in the Premier League.