Puh, det ser ut som at finalen (som skal spilles på The Ethiad) kan flyttes fremover i tid.
OG, trener Etherington tror det med Crew skyldtes tired legs...
His under-18 side played out an entertaining, rain-soaked 4-3 victory over Millwall to book their place in the final, which has to be played before the end of May 4. If that day rings a bell for non-Star Wars-related reasons, it will be because it’s the final day of the Championship season.
Leeds host Southampton in what is shaping up to be an almighty day of destiny in the second tier for the Whites as they chase promotion. While that day is pencilled in for the Youth Cup final, it is highly likely to be played before that date.
Etherington wants it moved so his under-18s can fully focus without any distractions, but also feel even more of the pressure of a final. Manchester City will be the hosts in the showdown and given how many supporters turned out last night, it seems unlikely their academy will be big enough to meet the demand for tickets.
“Speaking for myself, I think the club would back it (a fixture date change),” he said. “We want as much focus and as much pressure on the players as possible. So if we could avoid that day, we probably could do that.”
He added: “We could fill the Etihad, to be honest, so they might even need a bigger stadium than that. It's what separates us from every other club and every other academy. Ten-and-a-half thousand here is something we're all really proud of.
“We're so proud to work and to play and represent this football club, so yes, if it was at the Etihad we’d probably fill it.”
Aside from the logistics and excitement of a prestigious cup final Leeds will contest for the first time since 1997, there was a brief injury scare at Elland Road on Thursday. As new as he may be to the senior set-up, Charlie Crew is not someone Daniel Farke would like to see ruled out of his matchday squad right now.
The 17-year-old started Thursday’s game and shone in his best moments as United’s chief dictator in the middle, even capping his performance with a first-half goal. However, Crew would not finish the game.
Inside the final five minutes of normal time, Crew was clattered and stayed down on the turf afterwards. He was asking for his team-mates to put the ball out in order to receive some treatment.
However, they played on and the Wales youth international had to get back to his feet, trying to walk the pain off, but it was clear he couldn’t. Crew could barely walk and when the ball did go dead, he went to ground and was soon limping off to be replaced.
Etherington, who praised Crew’s character and suggested his inclusion was never in doubt despite his recent ascension, was hopeful it was nothing more than tired legs for the teenager rather than anything more sinister.
“He’s a top young person, he’s a top player,” he said. “Everybody at the club on an occasion like this wants our best players, our best academy players, to play on that stage and there was certainly no real conversations about that (Crew being pulled out).
“For him to come out and try to be the best player on the pitch, for him and where he's at, is perfect experience and exposure for him.”
Asked if Crew was okay, the head coach said: “Yeah, I think he's just got some tired legs, but he's not the only one.”
https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/new-leeds-united-injury-scare-28940817
