MOT View: Bielsa has plans for 18y/o Leeds ace despite first-team snub
Ryan Edmondson was touted as the next big thing by Leeds United fans after a stunning last season for the Under-23s.
He’s started this season in the same vein and he’s currently on eight goals for Carlos Corberan’s side.
However, he’s not been trusted with a place on the bench in the first-team, even after Eddie Nketiah left Bielsa with no other attacking options.
Instead, Bielsa has chosen to have no recognised striker on the bench in recent weeks, despite Patrick Bamford not scoring since before Christmas.
However, it’s not the end of the line for Edmondson at Leeds.
Athletic journalist Phil Hay has claimed that while it might be the end of the road for one young striker – Kun Temenuzhkov, who has faded from view in the Under-23s – Bielsa doesn’t want Edmondson to leave on loan in this window.
That will be encouragement for the 18-year-old, who must have been wondering what he had to do to get a chance after a procession of other Under-23 stars were given their senior debuts ahead of him.
Bielsa might not think it’s Edmondson’s time just yet but he obviously has plans for the youngster.
It could even be protection for a player who Bielsa just doesn’t think is ready to make the big leap up from the Under-23s to the Championship.
There’s more pressure on a striker to perform and get goals and Bielsa could just be wrapping him in cotton wool.
The fact that he sees his future at Thorp Arch is one that should spur Edmondson on the for the rest of the season.
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