Exciting Leeds United prospect given 'one for the future' label after huge international boost
A fifth Leeds United player joined up with the Wales squad for this month's friendlies.
Daniel James believes Leeds United teenager Jayden Lienou is ‘definitely one for the future’ following his first ever Wales national team call up.
Eighteen-year-old Lienou has joined a quartet of senior club-level teammates in the Wales camp for two June friendlies against Ghana and Romania. The left-back was singled out for praise by head coach Craig Bellamy on Monday having impressed with Leeds Under-21s throughout his debut campaign in West Yorkshire.
The teenager - who joined from Manchester City last summer - made it into Daniel Farke’s injury-hit squad towards the end of the season and has been regularly involved in first-team training. As a left-back, he’ll likely have come directly up against right-winger James at Thorp Arch.
“He's been brilliant this season,” James said of his young teammate for club and country. “He’s been training with us a lot so a lot of these [in the Wales squad] have been training against him. He's a great lad.
“I think it'll be great for him this week to experience it, but it always helps to have a few familiar faces coming into camp too. I think he thoroughly deserves it. He's been great since he's been here and been great at Leeds. He’s definitely one for the future, a great player.”
Lienou’s international experience thus far amounts to a rise through the Wales youth ranks, with 23 caps across various age groups. The left-back is expected to be part of the Under-19s squad at this summer’s U19 European Championships in his home country.
The defender at least has four familiar faces in Bellamy’s squad. Alongside James are goalkeeper Karl Darlow, centre-back Joe Rodon and club captain Ethan Ampadu.
James is now 28-years-old and with 63 caps plus trips to both the World Cup and European Championships under his belt, can be classified as a national team veteran. But he and other experienced squad members will guide the likes of Lienou through what can be a nervy but exciting opportunity.
“It’s obviously a different environment but I think we’ve got such a humble squad, and there’s a lot of other younger players coming through it at the same time,” James added. “For Jayden, it's nice to see some familiar faces but also he’s playing in the U19 Euros next week.
“I think all players and staff welcome you. I think the first couple of camps are a little bit nervy but it's a great pathway to come through.”