da 888casino： This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
da bwin： Marcelo Bielsa has only used 19 players in the Championship so far this season, but there may be another name added to that list shortly.
Indeed, two important figures at Leeds United have been talking up the abilities of a young midfielder within their ranks, something that suggests he could be handed a league debut in the near future.
Forshaw and Bielsa’s comments
Adam Forshaw has been full of praise for youngster Robbie Gotts saying:
“I think he’s breaking the record for the number of appearances on the bench without getting a shirt.” Forshaw told the Talking Shutt Podcast.
“In my eyes so unfortunate not to come on or play yet. He’s got so much ability. He deserves a go, such a hard competitor when you train up against him. I think he’ll have a decent career.”
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While it’s all well and good for a teammate to be saying those things Gotts will be buoyed by the fact that Marcelo Bielsa shared the same sentiment this week.
“I have never seen a player play with such a dynamic. [He is] A player full of skills. In his position I have played Klich, Forshaw, Shackleton and Dallas. There is tough competition in this position, but everybody in the team respects him, especially his team-mates, as we do.” Bielsa said (Via LeedsLive).
“Also, it’s true he didn’t have games yet. He showed he deserved to play in the first team. I wish he would play with the first team soon, but he competes with players at a high level.”
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Chance is coming
These comments only point towards one eventuality, and it only seems like a matter of time before the 19-year-old makes his debut.
The teenager is clearly rated highly by Bielsa, and with the Argentine often giving youth players a chance such as Jack Clarke and Jamie Shackleton last season, there’s no reason why Gotts can’t be next on that conveyor belt.
As of last January, Bielsa had handed ten first-team debuts out to players under the age of 21, while Alfie McCalmont and Mateusz Bogusz have been given chances in the cup this term too.
It’s hard to juggle giving opportunities to youngsters when pushing for promotion, but if Gotts is as good as Bielsa and Forshaw say he is then it shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
So far, the young midfielder has only been seen among the substitutes. These comments suggest that could be about to change in the short-term future.