United:
Whizz kid Denton, 15, set for reserves bow Neil Redfearn.
10:27 Wednesday 06 April 2011
Leeds United will field another youthful team in tonight’s reserve game against Hartlepool United – with 15-year-old Tyler Denton set to start. United’s squad for last week’s clash with Middlesbrough was largely devoid of first-team players, and Leeds are taking the same approach this evening with a third successive reserve-league title unlikely to materialise.
The side chosen by reserve coach Neil Redfearn consists predominantly of first and second-year scholars, and Sanchez Payne is the only young professional included in the squad of 17. Right-back Zac Thompson was injured in United’s defeat to Boro and will not be involved tonight. But Denton is the most notable selection having previously appeared in just a handful of under-18 fixtures. The midfielder agreed scholarship terms with Leeds last year and is set to officially join their academy as a scholar in the summer of 2012.
Redfearn said: “He’s played for the youth team in the last two games and he’s acquitted himself well. He’s mature for his age and a good athlete with a fantastic left foot. “It might look like a big step up for him but it’s a step I think he’s capable of taking.†Leeds are not yet out of the running for the totesport.com League East Division title but the club dropped off the top of the table after losing to Boro at Elland Road. Boro lead the competition by two points with a game in hand. United, who claimed the championship in 2009 and 2010, have one fixture remaining after this evening’s match but Redfearn admitted recently that he would rather blood Leeds’ academy footballers than use a host of senior players to guarantee first place in the table.
Tonight’s game was originally due to take place at Billingham Town but Hartlepool have moved the fixture to Victoria Park (kick-off 7pm). United: Cairns, Gimpel, Taylor, N Turner, Cardwell, L Turner, Booker, Denton, Poleon, Baxendale, Birbeck. Subs: Paulat-Briggs, Payne, Lenighan, Byram, Qualter, Killock. Meanwhile, Simon Grayson believes the depth of Leeds United’s squad could be a decisive factor in the closing weeks of the Championship season after admitting that he is struggling to accommodate all of his players.
United’s manager said the competition within his squad would “drive players on and hopefully get us success†following the omission on Saturday of several high-profile names from his squad to face Nottingham Forest. Grayson took the chance to introduce new signing Jake Livermore, using the on-loan Totten Hotspur midfielder as a substitute towards the end of Leeds’ 4-1 victory, but he had no space in his 18-man pool for Paul Connolly, Alex Bruce or Lloyd Sam. Billy Paynter will complicate his selection process further when he returns from a three-match ban after next week’s visit to Derby County, but Grayson expects the sheer weight of numbers to count in his favour during the last month of the term. Leeds still have a slim chance of claiming automatic promotion and their win over Forest, a major rival for a top-six finish, put the club firmly on course to claim a play-off place after 46 games. Grayson said: “We’ve got a good squad at the moment. Look at the bench, and also look at Alex Bruce, Paul Connolly, Billy Paynter – guys who aren’t even in the 18 at the moment. That competition places will drive players on and hopefully get us success.â€
Livermore appeared for the last 15 minutes of Saturday’s victory and had a hand in the fourth and final Leeds goal, scored by Max Gradel. Grayson said: “I thought he was good – very tidy, strong and powerful. He can handle the ball and it’ll have done him the world of good to get a feel of Elland Road and understand what it’s all about.†Meanwhile, Forest have lost their appeal against the red card shown to Chris Cohen in Saturday’s clash at Elland Road.
Read more at:
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-whizz-kid-denton-15-set-for-reserves-bow-1-3257614