Live from Tadcaster: Leeds U18s ace could jump ahead of competition after blinder v Sheff Weds
Leeds United Under-18s returned to action on Thursday night after almost a month without a game.
The young Whites beat Sheffield Wednesday 5-4 on penalties in Tadcaster as they progressed in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup after the match finished 2-2 after extra time.
Mark Jackson had a number of players available to him from the Under-23s with Nohan Kenneh, Charlie Cresswell, and Jack Jenkins all starting the derby.
It was Cresswell who captained the side, and he is really starting to catch the eye at Elland Road – cementing his spot in this squad and the 23s.
The 17-year-old was vocally superb and often had to tell his teammates where to be and what to do – a sign that he is matured way past his age from the heart of defence.
Son of former Leeds man, Richard, Cresswell also played a number of phenomenal diagonal balls as he dictated the tempo phenomenally.
With players such as Oliver Casey and Pascal Struijk having earned debuts, you can’t help but think that Cresswell isn’t far away with how well he is playing.
The young defender already looks more composed than the older pairing – something which is clearer to see in the Under-23s.
If Cresswell continues with this level of performance, there is no doubting how far he could go.
He could even jump the queue to the first-team set up ahead of Casey and Struijk – especially after the shocker Struijk had against Cardiff in the 3-3 draw at Elland Road last month.
Either way, Marcelo Bielsa will be encouraged by the progress that Cresswell is making both off and on the ball – signs that he could fit into the first team down the line.
In other Leeds United news, a player is set to undergo a medical with the Whites this weekend.