Leeds United Under-23s recap: Whites host Everton in Premier League 2 at York in final outing of 2021

Welcome to tonight’s Under-23s matchday blog from York City.

Leeds United host Everton in the Premier League 2 this evening as the Whites close out 2021.

We’ll have all the latest right here, so stay tuned.

Everton U23s boss David Unsworth is eyeing victory tonight.

“We’re the second-youngest team in the league – only Manchester City are younger than us,” Unsworth told evertonfc.com ahead of kick-off.

“It’s been a massive step up for the boys from Under-18s football.

“The teams we have been beaten over the past couple of months have been the older teams.

“It was a big ask and we knew that at the start of the season – and we knew we would get better.

“Results have steadily improved but, most importantly, the performances have really picked up.

“We’ve had a couple of great wins and now we want to finish our year off well against Leeds.”

Leeds U23s have slipped into 13th spot in the PL2 standings, which means they’re now in one of the two relegation places in the top academy division.

United started the season in good form but injuries at senior level have filtered down to impact proceedings in the development ranks.

Jackson’s outfit are winless in their last nine league outings - a streak that dates back to mid-September.

Leeds United U23s XI v Everton: Van den Heuvel, Sutcliffe, Mullen, Moore, McCarron, Jenkins, Bate, Allen, Dean, McGurk, Greenwood.

Subs: Klaesson, McKinstry, Kenneh, Gray, Carole.

Everton U23s: Tryer, John, Anderson, Welch, Astley, Price, Mills, Whitaker, Cannon, Warrington, Hughes.

Subs: McAlister, Barrett, Kouyate, Campbell, Hunt.

Both teams back in from their warm-ups... we’re closing in on kick-off here in York.

Small crowd in here tonight at York on the far side. Plenty of scouts in the near stand. Leeds out first followed by Everton. Kick-off coming next. Can the Whites find a first win in nine to sign off 2021?