Jack Clarke (Leeds United Under-18s)
Late last November, 17-year-old Jack Clark signed his first professional contract for the Whites – the young striker signing on his 17th birthday. Since then he’s gone on to hit the headlines, and the back of the net, for Leeds United’s Under-18s. In helping the Under 18s to the top of the table, Clarke has scored a team-leading 11 goals. Such a strike rate might warrant at least being involved and being part of a match day set-up for the Whites.
Sammy Amissah (Leeds United Under-18s)
Another exciting talent in the Leeds United Under-18 set-up is Amissah, who signed scholarship terms as part of Leeds United’s 2016 intake. Since representing, and scoring for, the Under-18s as a 16-year-old, the youngster has come on in leaps and bounds. Currently he’s starring alongside Jack Clarke and his eight goals have helped drive the young Whites to the top of the tU-18 Professional Development League 2.
Oliver Sarkic (Leeds United Under-23s)
Sarkic was brought over from Portuguese giants Benfica on an initial loan deal, a deal that was made permanent in early January of this year. The 20-year-old has been capped at various youth levels for Montenegro, and his deal at Elland Road runs to June 2020 with the option of a further year at the club’s discretion. Sarkic currently tops the Under-23 scoring charts with five goals. Should he keep this up, an appearance on the substitute bench towards the end of the season wouldn’t be too much to ask.
Alex Machuca (Leeds United Under-23s)
Machuca joined Leeds from Spanish side Rayo Vallecano in mid-July last year, with Leeds United Director of Football Victor Orta playing a big part in the deal. Orta originally wanted the youngster when he was at Middlesbrough, renewing his interest when he joined Leeds United. The skillful midfielder has been showing just why so much was thought of him with his mature displays in the Under-23 side. As well as skillful displays for the Development squad, Machuca has also notched three goals for the ever-improving Leeds United reserve side. The senior side have a glut of midfielders at their disposal, but a greater involvement with the match day squad might be a useful experience for the young Spaniard.
Oriol Rey (Leeds United Under-23s)
Rey came to the Whites via a deal from world football giants Barcelona, the young Catalan player being one of a number of Spanish players who joined the Whites youth set-up during the summer of 2017. Rey started out as a defensive midfielder for the Barcelona Juvenil side and played the most minutes in the azulgrana’s run to the semi-final stage of the 2016/17 UEFA Youth League competition. However, he converted to a central defender and that’s where he’s been featuring for the Whites Development squad this term, helping himself to two goals. Rey is another player who may well benefit from added exposure to the first team set-up when the picture becomes clearer as to where the team stand in the coming weeks.
