Heckingbottom confirms Leeds U23 star set for senior debut v Sunderland
Paul Heckingbottom has confirmed that Leeds Under-23 star Paudie O'Connor could be in line to make his senior debut on Saturday in the Championship game against Sunderland.
The 20-year-old enforcer, who signed from Limerick last year, has made the bench once but hasn't actually got any game-time with the first team.
That could all change now with the latest injury to Matthew Pennington giving manager Heckingbottom a crisis in defence.
Talking in the pre-match press conference ahead of the Sunderland game, Heckingbottom said that the youngster could be involved after training with the first team all week.
He also said that if he is going to be involved he wants to give him as much of a chance as possible.
Football Insider verdict:
Great news for O'Connor and this is the right thing to do as the first-team squad is decimated by injuries. The season is already over and it's the perfect opportunity to get youngsters into the side and see if they're ready to grasp their big chance. Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Tom Pearce have already done well. Saturday sounds like it could be the turn of O'Connor.
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