Marcelo Bielsa provides update on Lewis Bate’s Leeds first team chances
Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has kept his cards close to his chest on the chances of Lewis Bate featuring for the first team.
The Whites signed the teenage midfielder from Chelsea in the summer and he has earned praise for his performances for the Under-23 side.
This has led to suggestions that he should get a chance in the first team – including from Phil Hay – particularly due to the squad’s injury problems. Yet this has not materialised.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the game against Manchester City on Tuesday (14 December), Bielsa commented on Bate’s situation [Leeds Live].
“What he does is sufficient,” he said. “A very hard-working person, very serious. Competing with players his age and those with stability in the first team. I observe, correctly or not, and I pick.”
Opportunity knocks
Obviously Bielsa is the man who sees Bate in training every day so he is in the best position to judge whether he is first team ready or not, but it does seem a bit strange to not even be including the 19-year-old in the matchday squad.
Bate has been named on the substitutes bench just once in the Premier League this season but has been a regular standout for the Under-23s.
The matchday squad against Chelsea on Saturday (11 December) was packed with his academy teammates, including fellow midfielders Jack Jenkins and Stuart McKinstry.
Meanwhile, Joe Gelhardt’s first team breakthrough has shown how young players can have a real impact on the Whites’ season.
With Kalvin Phillips sidelined for the next two months, Bate deserves his chance to prove his worth over the busy Christmas period.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites want to sign a teenage sensation from a Premier League rival.