Early Leeds team news shared by Ian Harte on Twitter ahead of clash v Bolton
By Richard Parks
Former Leeds United defender Ian Harte has revealed on Twitter that wonderkid Jack Clarke will miss the team's Championship clash against Bolton Wanderers today (Friday).
Harte, who is a football agent and has close connections to the United academy, took to his personal social media account this morning to wish Clarke the best of luck in a youth tournament in Spain over the Easter period.
The striker, 17, will fly out today with Leeds Under-17s squad today and miss the matches against Bolton and next Tuesday's fixture against Fulham.
Fans watching a live stream drooled over him last Friday as he tormented the Cardiff City defence and spearheaded Leeds Under-23s to a 3-0 win, their fourth consecutive triumph.
Football Insider verdict:
Harte has previously been critical of Leeds' treatment this season of their home-grown youngsters, claiming there were "too many foreign players" in the Under-23s and that "all I could hear was Spanish been spoken by players and manager" after attending a youth-team match earlier this season. He is at pains on this occasion to not be critical of United and claim that Clarke's trip to Spain will be "good experience" for him. Many are likely to have a different view to the Leeds legend, especially as the senior side's play-offs hopes are in tatters and the time appears ideal for the club's young guns to be fast-tracked into the malfunctioning first team.
In other Leeds United news, 13 players are fighting for their jobs as behind-the-scenes planned laid for huge cull.