Aapo Halme ponders Elland Road opportunities but reflects on Leeds United to Barnsley switch with realism

The defender was sold to the Tykes for an undisclosed fee after 18 months at Elland Road that brought just five first team appearances and only one Championship start.

He has found football far easier to come by at Oakwell, with 24 league starts.

And even though life in the red shirt has played out at the opposite end of the table to where Leeds ply their trade, Halme believes his footballing education has benefitted.

The 21-year-old, whose three goals this season have all come in draws against Derby County, Bristol City and Leeds' title rivals West Brom, said: “In the hardest times, you learn from them and appreciate the good times more.

“When you are doing good, you are more happy as you worked so hard to get there through the tough times."

Halme, like any footballer who leaves a club without making their mark, questions whether or not he had enough of an opportunity to do so at Elland Road.

But he reflects on his move from Leeds to Barnsley with realism, because of the Whites' ambitions.

And being involved at one of the Championship's biggest sides for a year and a half was beneficial, he believes.

“Every footballer wants to play week in, week out and I got the opportunity to play here and I am really happy and as a team, we have to stay in the league," he said.

“Maybe I could have had more chances at Leeds. But then again, it is a big club and you have to be ready to play there (straightaway) as they are a club who are trying to get promoted to the Premier League.

“It was realistic to come here and I think that being at a massive club helped me when I came here.”