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Youth brigade a boon for United
Four of Leeds United's hottest young stars are to sign professional – and Academy coach Neil Thompson is confident more are on the way.
If so, Leeds won't be hanging around in League One for long, Thompson rating the thriving academy as one of the best in the country.
Goalkeeper Matty Edwards and forward Chris Ovington, both 17, both turned professional yesterday after highly successful spells under Thompson.
Centre-back Nathan Cartman and midfielder Ross Wilkinson, both 18, have also been offered terms and will turn professional on their return on Monday.
The influx of talented youngsters is a huge boost for boss Gary McAllister who will now watch and assess the young stars during pre-season training.
Thompson insists all four can make it and feels Leeds are blessed with an Academy of Premiership, not League One, quality.
"We take a lot of pride in what we do and we feel we are one of the best in the area certainly, if not the country," said Thompson.
"We don't make promises but all the lads there have got potential though to realise that potential they need a lot of hard work and to continually apply themselves. Their attitude has got to be right.
"At the Academy nothing gives us a greater pleasure then seeing one of them running out at Elland Road with the first team and staying there.
"These lads have the ability to do that and now it's down to their application and the right attitude."
Leeds' new quartet will join up with fellow whizz kids Fabian Delph and Ollie Hotchkiss, who both signed professional terms in January.
Highly-rated Delph is in the England squad for this month's Euro under-19s Championships in Prague.
Thompson is impressed with Leeds' latest talent fresh off the conveyor belt, and all four players specialise in very different positions.
"Matty Edwards has a lot of potential and he is one of the younger ones," said Thompson.
"He's grown a hell of a lot since last year, which you need to as a goalkeeper, and we're hoping he can kick on.
"Chris Ovington is a forward and he played with the reserves last year, as did Matty Edwards, and he did very well.
"He's got a good eye for goal and a really good work ethic and hopefully he can come back and kick on.
"Ross Wilkinson is six foot four, a centre-half, and he has a lot of potential.
"He had a lot of reserve games last year and a lot of under-18s games so he has had a lot of experience, which he now needs to put to use.
"Nathan Cartman is a midfielder with a lot of talent and a lot of vision, plus he is tough and has a good work ethic.
"He's also played under-18s and reserve-team football.
"They will all come back pre-season and now it's up to them to work and get themselves into the first team, but we're hoping they can kick on."
Thompson has nurtured current first-team squad members Jonny Howson, Scott Gardner and Ben Parker, not to mention those smuggled away by clubs in the Premier League.
Thompson is keen not to pressurise developing youngsters, but is sure there are plenty more to come for McAllister.
He said: "I look down at the age groups we cover in and around Leeds, which is the catchment area, and we think it's a really good area for that," he said.
"I look down there and there are a lot of talented kids – it just depends how they take in the teaching, the tactics, the physical side of things and how they grow.
"I don't mention names as it's unfair but Fabian has made great strides into the England set-up and we are hoping he can kick on.
"At under-16 level we already have two players who have represented England, in Luke Garbett and Joe McCann, and hopefully they will continue to develop over the next few years.
"There are also other people when I look down that can come through."
Thompson also gave hope to those youngsters who may feel they lack the necessary size or stature to make the grade. And, even if they don't, Thompson insists Leeds' Academy is about more than merely becoming a professional footballer.
"We've seen players who are the smallest ones at 14 and they've not been able to compete with the bigger ones, but that's not to say they can't make it," he said. "At the end of the day the lad's got to be able to play.
"Kids all grow at different rates, and a kid is not always the same player at 14 as they are at 16 and as they are at 18.
"The main thing we look for is somebody who can affect the game in a positive manner – someone who can dribble, someone who can defend or pass or someone who is quick.
"Whatever it is, we look for someone who can affect the game in a positive manner.
"Some will make it into the first team but a programme is in place and for the other ones they may leave the club and hopefully have a career somewhere else.
"Also, it's all about making them better people as well as better footballers and that is something we do."
For a huge crop of talented youngsters still in the Academy, 2008-09 now offers the chance to impress Thompson and become the next Edwards, Ovington, Cartman or Wilkinson in 12 months' time.
For this year's quartet, a brand new chapter is just beginning and, brilliantly for McAllister, the new professionals come with his desired style of football very much installed.
"We get them to get it down and pass it," said Thompson. "We take a lot of pride from what we are doing and we get them to play football the right way."
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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