Leeds United youngsters receive fresh praise but with 'too much' admission and missed chance

United’s under-21s returned to league action with Sunday’s PL2 D1 hosting of Liverpool in which goals from Sean McGurk and Mateo Joseph fired the young Whites into a 2-0 lead. The hosts had plenty of other chances to further boost their tally but the Reds went into the break just 2-0 down and fought back and to claim a 2-2 draw.

The contest arrived just five days after Tuesday evening’s 3-1 win at home to Hertha BSC in the Premier League International Cup and Leeds under-21s boss Michael Skubala admitted the demands of the two games were probably “too much” for his young players who he felt tired after the break.

Skubala, though, says his players will ultimately benefit from the schedule “learning curve” as he issued fresh praise for his exciting group.

"I thought we were good in the first half, we had structure, we looked how we wanted to play, we were causing Liverpool all sorts of problems and we were composed,” said Skubala. "I actually think going in at half time we should have had more goals.

"I think the game would have been to bed at 3-0 rather than 2-0, maybe even 4-0 we could have had. So I think we did well. Then we came out and I think if I'm honest, I thought we were not our best.

"They changed a few things but we were just were a bit sloppy with passes and I just thought we needed to improve and maybe with these young players, playing Hertha in the week and then going again was probably too much but that's part of their learning to be a senior football.

"It's physically dem