Leeds United: ‘Falsely’ suspended academy ace Edmondson rewarded by head coach Heckingbottom
Phil Hay
Published: 18:00 Sunday 29 April 2018
Leeds United academy player Ryan Edmondson steps off the first-team bus at Carrow Road. PIC: Tony Johnson
Leeds United academy player Ryan Edmondson steps off the first-team bus at Carrow Road. PIC: Tony Johnson
Updated: 08:39 Monday 30 April 2018
Leeds United head coach Paul Heckingbottom revealed that he took Ryan Edmondson to Norwich City on Saturday as a way of softening the blow of the untimely ban which ruled the striker out of Under-18s duty.
Edmondson made the trip to Carrow Road after suspension prevented him from playing in the Under-18s’ Professional Development League semi-final against Charlton Athletic.
The talented 16-year-old was dismissed in the junior side’s final regular league game, a win over Bolton Wanderers which secured first place in the PDL’s northern section, and he was absent on Saturday as the Under-18s campaign ended with a 1-0 defeat to Charlton.
Heckingbottom has talked up Edmondson’s potential having seen the forward settle quickly since a move to Leeds’ academy from York City in November and Edmondson took another step forward with his first development-squad appearance earlier this month.
A senior debut eluded him over the weekend, however, as Heckingbottom chose not to name Edmondson in his 18-man squad at Norwich, preferring to include Jay-Roy Grot, Caleb Ekuban and on-loan Pierre-Michel Lasogga instead. Right-back Luke Ayling – missing since undergoing ankle surgery in January – also journeyed to Carrow Road without appearing on the bench.
Heckingbottom insisted a trip away with the first-team squad would help Edmondson’s development, saying: “He got the experience, he saw what it was like and he’ll be better for it.
Injured winger-turned-makeshift-defender Stuart Dallas. PIC: Bruce Rollinson
“I’ve spoken about him in the past and in the week I wasn’t going to put him (in the travelling squad) but he was wrongly sent off in an 18s game and suspended for their big game. He was down and upset and it was a good moment to bring him with us as a reward for him doing so well.â€
Heckingbottom has picked through Leeds’ academy players since taking charge as head coach, handing senior debuts to defenders Tom Pearce and Paudie O’Connor and giving Bailey Peacock-Farrell a first opportunity in goal for almost two years.