Forward identified after linking up with Leeds ahead of possible transfer
By Alex Stevens
The mystery of the Leeds forward trialist has been solved by Shamrock Rovers, the club’s Under-23s opposition on Sunday.
Leeds revealed on Monday of last week that they had taken three players on trial after giving them run-outs for their development side.
But the official Elland Road media channels did not name the trio who played in the 4-3 defeat against Sheffield United at Thorp Arch, listing them simply as ‘Trialist’ in the announcement of the starting XI.
It subsequently emerged that Huddersfield midfielder Jack Boyle was also one of the three trialists, as corroborated by BBC broadcaster Adam Pope.
Boyle was once again in action for Jason Blunt’s Under-23s side in the 3-0 defeat to Irish side Shamrock on Sunday, along with a player previously unknown to Leeds fans, Slovenian striker Mitja Krizan.
He appears to be the trialist who wore the No10 shirt against Sheffield United six days earlier, a number associated with forward players.
Shamrock did not attempt to withhold the identities of the players in Sunday’s friendly fixture in Dublin as they released the teamsheet on their official Twitter account.
Little is known about 19-year-old Slovenian striker Krizan other than he was born in Maribor and stands a towering 6ft 5in.
He joined Slovenian top-flight club NK Celje last summer after completing a transfer from fellow premier division outfit NK Aluminij and signing a three-year contract.
But Krizan has made little impact since his move, accumulating just 43 minutes of first-team action from five appearances.
Leeds are now weighing up a move for the teenager as they look to increase the striker options in their squad.
Clubs hand trials to emerging players when they assess them over a defined period of time with a view to offering them contracts.
Leeds’ senior side are next in action on Tuesday night when they host struggling Bristol City in a Championship fixture at Elland Road.
In other Leeds transfer news, there has been a finale in a major deal after a £7million Leeds bid was tabled.
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