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. He’s also featured in six games for the Under-23 side, showing that the Whites are keeping tabs on him. 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 Under-18 Professional Development League 2. Whilst a leap to the first team in the remaining games of the season is likely a leap too far, a run in the Under-23, who have three games left, might prove a useful decision.
Ryan Edmondson (Leeds United Under-18)
Rangy striker Edmondson joined the Whites from York City in November, coming to Elland Road just a month after making his début as a 16-year-old for the Minstermen. He signed a deal for the Whites that will run until June 2020 and there are rumours the ubiquitous ‘undisclosed fee’ was of a sizeable nature. Since joining up with Leeds United, the young striker has certainly hit the straps what with seven goals in seven appearances. Another player that might deserve a look at the Under-23s in their three-game run-in to the season’s end.
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 four goals for the ever-improving Leeds United reserve side – his last one coming in a 3-2 win over their Ipswich counterparts a fortnight ago. Of course, 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.
Sam Dalby (Leeds United Under-23)
United brought in talented 18-year-old Dalby from National League side Leyton Orient, the youngster signing on the dotted line in mid January. His signature saw his slotted in to Carlos Corberan’s Under-23 side, a move that he’s taken under his wing. He has scored five goals in eight appearances for the young Whites, including an impressive brace in the 3-2 win over Ipswich Town’s development squad. Again, like Machuca and Rey, Dalby is a player that Leeds United might take a look at including in first team training and match day set-ups in the run-in to the end of the season.
