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Phil Hay: Max Dean rated by Leeds United hierarchy but is too young
Phil Hay claims that Leeds United sensation Max Dean has fans at the club, but is too young to be thought of as a senior team figure.
The 17-year-old has scored three goals in eight games for the Whites in the Premier League 2 this season.
Despite signing his first professional deal at the club earlier this year, he is viewed as someone with a huge ceiling.
Ahead of the Spurs clash on Sunday, Hay was asked on the Athletic Q&As whether he could force his way into the first-team squad in a few years.
He responded, “He falls into the category of players they rate but he’s very young still and the reality with 23s is that you rarely get a massive haul of them going on to be regulars at one club.
“Hard to predict at this stage. There’s a lot to like about him and he does score goals.”
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Give the lad time
Some Leeds fans just cannot seem to get enough of the youngsters and want everyone promoted to the first team.
There’s a reason why they’re still playing for the U-23s and that’s probably because they’re not ready for senior football.
Whites fans must rest assured that Marcelo Bielsa is keeping an eye on the academy as he sees it as an extension of the first-team squad in many ways.
Pre-season is the time when he’s given a number of players their chance to flourish and another good campaign from Dean could see him handed his first taste of senior football next summer.
Leeds have an abundance of attacking riches in the academy and that’s heartening to see.
Even after Bielsa leaves there will still be players coming up the ranks that have been accustomed to his style of training and that will only rub off on the rest of the squad.
Dean, much like Leeds fans, needs to play the waiting game as of now.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay shares what he’s heard about Rodrigo & Raphinha missing the Spurs clash on Sunday