Ex-manager hails ‘brilliant recruitment’ from Leeds after development this week
Alex McLeish has applauded the “brilliant recruitment” at Leeds United after four youth players starred for England’s under-20s.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Scotland manager insisted the scouts at Elland Road deserved praise for unearthing the exciting prospects.
Sam Greenwood, Cody Drameh and Lewis Bate all started in Monday’s (6th September) 6-1 win over Romania.
However, it was substitute Joe Gelhardt who shone brightest of the Leeds players.
The 19-year-old came off the bench after 12 minutes to net a brace in his first appearances for the Three Lions’ under-20s.
Gelhardt, Greenwood and Drameh all joined Leeds last year, while Bate arrived from Chelsea this summer.
McLeish insisted recruitment is as, if not more, important as coaching and development.
He praised Leeds for identifying and signing the aforementioned quartet over the past 18 months.
“Great development is terrific but you don’t bring ordinary players to the club,” McLeish told Football Insider’s Russell Edge.
“There has to be a talent in spotting them in the first place. There has to be an assessment of if these kids have great potential.
“That they were the standouts that they (talent spotters) saw at their level of under-16 or under-15s or even before that. Some of them join academies at the age of nine or ten.
“It can be a very long process but they are really singled out quite early in their football careers.
“It seems that Leeds, the recruitment has been brilliant.”
Gelhardt joined from Wigan, Drameh from Fulham and Greenwood from Arsenal.
The latter the only one of the trio who has made his first-team bow at Leeds so far.
In other news, Football Insider has revealed which Leeds United starlet is “electrifying” Bielsa and his coaches.