Leeds United: Poleon and Byram show rest the way 
Dominic Poleon.
By Leon Wobschall
Published on Tuesday 16 October 2012 12:19
As a motivational tool for Leeds United’s aspiring young players, the sight of Sam Byram and Dominic Poleon strutting their stuff in the first team is certainly a considerable one.The two teenagers have proved standard-bearers for Neil Redfearn’s young guns, who after a hugely successful 2011-12, have carried on from where they left off this season, with their vital statistics already eye-catching.
After agonisingly being pipped to silverware, namely the Premier Academy League Group D title, by Newcastle United last season, Leeds’ Under-18s (U18) have made an impressive start in their quest to go one better and are riding high in the newly-named U18 Professional Development League Two.
Their Under-21 (U21) contemporaries, like the U18s, have seen their colours lowered just once this term so far and reside at the business end of the U21 Professional Development League Two northern division.
Following the establishing of the new Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) in the summer, Redfearn stepped up from his post as U18s coach to manage the U21 squad, which served as the bridge between youth and first-team football for the club’s rookie talents.
Exposure
With just three over-21 outfield players, as well as an over-age goalkeeper, allowed to play in development squad games, it enables talented youngsters rather than fringe players to gain invaluable exposure to something resembling ‘man’s football’.
And if they do well and prosper, as the likes of Byram and Poleon plainly have, greater riches could transpire in the shape of a prized first-team call.
Redfearn added: “That is a big thing for the young players. When they see lads like Sam and Dom get in, they see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel and it gives them that bit of impetus to push on.
“They know there is something there for them if they work hard and excel.
“Last season, we built a (U18s) team and individuals benefited from that and Sam was an example.
“He thrived in the team environment we had and liked the system we played with a diamond in midfield and he used to bomb on from full-back and stood out and has got his reward with the first team.
“Dom has also given a good account of himself and he is now getting in the first-team picture as often as he can and forcing his way in to make it more difficult to leave him out in the future.
“That’s what he has got to do and he understands that. It’s the learning curve for the young kids though that is important.
“What they have to understand is that it’s not just about getting their foot in the door; that isn’t the end of it, but just the start of it. For all of the young players.
While Byram and Poleon – who yesterday joined League One side Bury on loan with fellow Academy product Zac Thompson – proved the cream of the crop last season, the smart money is on several others being propelled into the limelight over the coming months and years if progress at both U21 and U18 level is sustained.
Just last week, the feats of one second-year scholar were recognised with Dewsbury-born teen midfielder Chris Dawson, 18, rewarded for his impressive start to the current campaign with his first professional contract.
While just a few years ago, there looked to be a worrying dearth of talent coming through at Thorp Arch, the picture has changed in double-quick time with the hard yards done by Redfearn and his staff now yielding fruit.
Redfearn said: “It’s been fairly positive this season, without a shadow of a doubt.
“And obviously, the good thing is we have kids coming through now who are getting in and around the first team, which is a great bonus for everyone.
“The lads who are playing for the under-21s and under-18s, in both sides, are doing well and both sides are up near the top of the league and both have had good starts and are picking up results.
“Both have only lost once this season and it is looking healthy with all the players coming through for the club.
“The good thing is we took eight of our that U18 group last year who are now first-year pros.
“We had it in mind when we got this under-21 development group that it would create more opportunities and competitive football for young players, but these lads have got there on merit and are making a good account of themselves.
“We have also got a group of first-year scholars this time also and they’ve had a good start in the U18 competition.
“Things are looking good again this season.â€
On the turnaround in fortunes at youth level for United, who are starting to assemble an impressive conveyor belt of young talent who will hopefully one day be able to supplement the first-team ranks on demand and on merit, Redfearn added: “It’s been a culmination of things. We changed things around two or three years ago and looked at a few things in terms of how we were going to do it and develop things and obviously with the EPPP, we have changed the coaching programme and philosophies of how we want to do things.
“We are now reaping the rewards now and the standard of football in the U21 development league is really helping the players.
“The good thing for me is we played a game against Huddersfield last week and they had three overage players in, plus two or three younger lads in their under-21 set-up who had played in their first team.
“It was more like a first-team game as we had a few trialists in, along with the Turners (Nathan and Lewis) and Zac Thompson and it proved a cracking game, even though it finished 0-0.
“A draw was about right and the young lads will have taken a lot out of it. It was so far removed from an under-18 game and a really good standard. This level is really benefiting the kids.
“Last year, we were runners-up in the under-18 league, but really were the best side in the division and we beat the best sides and I think it wasn’t for the start we had, with us playing the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool in our first four games, we would have probably won it easily.
“Now a number of those lads are kicking on at the next level.â€
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