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Phil Hay: Lewis Bate likely to be involved against Leicester City
Leeds United take on Leicester City at Elland Road later today, and Phil Hay has suggested Lewis Bate could be involved in some capacity.
The 19-year-old midfielder joined the Whites from Chelsea in the summer but has featured mainly for the under-23s so far, impressing while at it.
Leeds have injury concerns and Marcelo Bielsa could be naming some fresh faces in his matchday squad for Sunday’s encounter.
Bate missed the under-23s clash with their Manchester United counterparts yesterday, and The Athletic journalist reckons he could finally make the first-team bench today.
He wrote during the Q and A session in build-up to the game on the website: Mark Jackson (U23s coach) said Bate had been left out of the 23s because he was involved in first team training.
“He’s been playing so well that we’ve all been waiting to see when he’ll make a match day squad. Perhaps this is the day.”
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The Chelsea academy graduate has been involved in 12 games for Leeds under-23s so far, scoring once and assisting once.
Bate has definitely done enough to catch the attention of Bielsa, and training with the senior team speaks volumes.
He used to train with Chelsea first-team too, but he was unable to make his Premier League bow before ending his 10-year association with the London club.
It appears Bate is edging closer to finally doing so, and if it does not happen today, it is definitely happening soon.
He captained the Blues side in the 2020 FA Youth Cup final and featured in 20 Premier League 2 Division 1 games last term.
Bate could soon outgrow youth football, and given Leeds’ need for quality depth in the middle of the park, an answer could be found in the teenager.
Bielsa never hesitates to give youngsters a chance, and if he can keep proving himself, he could soon become a regular in the first-team.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay has detailed where the Whites expect fresh financial shot in the arm amid major £50m call.