Teenage Whites forward salutes his 'great inspiration' within Leeds United's first team

Dean, 17, has impressed for the under-18s, 21s and 23s of late and has now signed professional terms on a two-year-deal at Elland Road.

It means the youngster is now contracted at the club until the summer of 2023 and the Academy star has hailed the atmosphere at the club's Thorp Arch training ground and the impact of Bamford on his own footballing education.

“It’s great, everyone gets on,” said Dean, speaking to LUTV.

“You couldn’t ask for a better team bond. There’s loads of different individuals but we’ve all come together, it’s been perfect and that has showed on the pitch as well.

“I get a lot from them (the first team), they’ve gone into a new league and shown what they can do.

“Patrick Bamford is a great inspiration because he’s proving he can do it in the big league, competing with the best so learning from him every day is good.”

Expressing his delight at signing his first professional deal, Dean said: “I’m made up, I’ve been working all season towards this and it is great to finally get what I have been working for,” a delighted Dean explained.

“I think coming back for pre-season, I came back as fit as I could be. I’ve worked hard, learnt how to play the system and I feel like I’ve adapted well to it.

“I’m learning loads being around the first team and the U23s as well, every day learning different physical or tactical sides to the game.

“I’ve developed a lot. I have learnt a lot about going forward but also my defensive duties as well, to make sure I know what I am doing when going backwards.”

Dean has scored four goals in eight Premier League 2 outings for the under-23s this term.

The forward also netted twice in United's EFL Trophy fixture against League Two side Barrow in October and has broken through to become a regular member of Mark Jackson's development squad.

The teen has bagged eight goals in 18 appearances across the Under-18s, 21s and 23s for the current campaign.

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Thank you Laura Collins