Leeds United loanee Jack Harrison on meaning of promotion and his hopes of third season at Elland Road

With almost two full seasons at Elland Road under his belt, Jack Harrison understands just how much it means to everyone at the club to finish the 2019/20 season with a promotion.
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And the workhorse of a winger, on loan from Manchester City, admits he harbours hopes of a third season with Leeds United, as a Premier League player.

Harrison, speaking to ESPN, says the club’s ambitions run right from the top to the bottom, from the owner Andrea Radrizzani to the staff who prepare the players’ food at their Thorp Arch training facility.

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He feels it too and he’s desperate to make the dream come true, if and when the season resumes after the coronavirus suspension. Harrison said: “I’m on loan, but you see how much it means to even myself, to the staff at the club even some of the kitchen staff, all of the fans, all the players, the owner.

“You see how much it means to each one of them.

“I want to do everything I can and, hopefully, I could still be with them next season. It’s hard to describe; if you’re here every week you understand how much it means to them.”

Leeds United hold an option to buy Harrison at the end of his loan deal, for a very reasonable £8m.

He has done his chances of becoming a permanent signing no harm this season with impressive performances on the left flank that his five goals and seven assists scarcely do justice.

HOPEFUL: Jack Harrison has hopes of being a Leeds United player in the Premier League. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.HOPEFUL: Jack Harrison has hopes of being a Leeds United player in the Premier League. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.
HOPEFUL: Jack Harrison has hopes of being a Leeds United player in the Premier League. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.
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It would be difficult for many Leeds fans to picture the side next season without Harrison hugging the left touchline and bringing down long balls with a memory-foam pillow of a first touch.

For the player himself, the future remains uncertain, so ensuring Leeds are a Premier League team next season is, at least, something he can try and control to some degree.

“I always want to play at the highest level, push myself to the limit,” he said.

“I’m not opposed to going back to Man City, if that’s what’s required of me. I must be ambitious as a player as well. If it’s with City or Leeds in the Premier League next season, I have to try my best.

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“Everything is up in the air right now so, as of right now, I just want to get promoted with Leeds and then we’ll see what happens from there.”

And he’s confident the rest of the playing squad are of the exact same mind.

Their aim is to finish strongly and avoid the heartache that ruined last season.

Finishing the job is what they have been preparing for ever since the 2018/19 campaign ended in disappointment.

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“Everything that comes into being a player is hard to sustain for the whole season,” he said.

“I think working this season and being prepared, everyone knows how it’s going to be going into training and with the mental side of things, everyone was prepared for it.

“Everyone’s just been on the same page this season.

“We know what’s expected, and everyone knows that and you can back up each other whenever anyone’s struggling.

“As a team, we’ve figured out a way to move forward together.”

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