Leeds United U18s set up FA Youth Cup quarter-final with Liverpool after Rory Mahady heroics
Rory Mahady was the hero for Leeds United Under-18s as they defeated their Sheffield United counterparts in the last 16 of the FA Youth Cup.
The 17-year-old saved two penalties in the shoot-out at Bramall Lane after the game finished 1-1 after 90 minutes and likewise after extra time.
Mahady was alert during the 120 minutes prior to pens as he produced a number of saves, most notably denying Marshall Francis and Billy Blacker.
It was his double stop in the shoot-out that grabbed the headlines, however, and Liverpool will now be in his sights as they await in the quarter-finals.
Liverpool up next for Leeds United
The Scotland age-grade international has been tipped for a big future at Elland Road, having been tied down to his first professional deal last year.
Mahady was previously on Celtic’s books and is knocking on the door for a place in Scotland’s Under-19s squad, despite still being just 17 years old.
Daniel Farke has showed he is not afraid to turn to younger players, with Archie Gray a prime example. Himself aged only 17, Gray has played the fourth-most minutes of any Leeds player this term (2,360) [WhoScored].
One of the three players to have featured more often than Gray in the Championship is goalkeeper Illan Meslier, who has performed well for Leeds on the whole this term but is also prone to some poor decisions.
Meslier is seemingly linked with the Elland Road exit every transfer window, with Chelsea supposedly showing a surprise interest in the Frenchman last summer.
The Leeds number one has just two years left to run on his contract, so Leeds may be more open to any offers that come in for him this year should they not go up.
Farke will want to bring in an adequate replacement if that is the case, but at least in Mahady there is a capable goalkeeper there who is perhaps now on the verge of senior squad selection.
This is not based on one performance but a whole host of them. Not many would have predicted Gray would be one of the most used players this season, so it just goes to show how players can emerge from seemingly nowhere.
Mahady just needs to keep on doing what he is doing and his chance will no doubt arrive at senior level soon. Should that be the case, it could save the club millions in transfer fees.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay has reacted to some “extraordinary” player news that has emerged.
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