Leeds now have 'high hopes' for 'fearless' 16 y/o starlet at Elland Road | OneFootball

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GiveMeSport

·25 September 2022

Leeds now have 'high hopes' for 'fearless' 16 y/o starlet at Elland Road

Article image:Leeds now have 'high hopes' for 'fearless' 16 y/o starlet at Elland Road

Leeds United have ‘high hopes’ for starlet Archie Gray and his inclusion for the Whites’ pre-season tour of Australia shows he has a bright future at Elland Road, according to Sky Sports reporter Tim Thornton.

Head coach Jesse Marsch spent close to £100million on reinforcements during the summer transfer window, but he could eventually offer an opportunity to one of the Yorkshire giants’ most exciting up-and-coming talents.


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Article image:Leeds now have 'high hopes' for 'fearless' 16 y/o starlet at Elland Road

What’s the latest news involving Gray?

Although Gray is still waiting to earn his senior debut, he has already been named on the substitutes bench on numerous occasions, including for Leeds’ season-opening win over Wolverhampton Wanderers last month.

The attacking midfielder was included in the Whites’ 26-man squad for the tour of Australia ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, where friendlies against Brisbane Roar, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace took place.

It is clear that Gray has caught the eye of Marsch, who was appointed as Leeds’ boss just 24 hours after Marcelo Bielsa’s sacking in February.

Marsch has revealed that he already considers the 16-year-old to be a first-team player and has hailed his ‘fearless’ personality, claiming he has ‘got the full package’.

The American has also suggested that he would like to see Gray remain on his current employers’ books for the next ’20 years’.

What has Tim Thornton said about Gray?

Thornton understands those working behind the scenes are admirers of Gray and feel he is destined for a successful career at Leeds.

The Sky Sports reporter believes the teenager’s inclusion in the Whites’ squad for their pre-season tour emphasises the confidence the club has that he will go on to become a star.

Thornton told GIVEMESPORT: “I think Archie Gray is one that there’s been a lot of talk about. There are high hopes for him, there’s no secret about that.

“The fact that he was on the pre-season tour to Australia, that tells you a lot.”

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Article image:Leeds now have 'high hopes' for 'fearless' 16 y/o starlet at Elland Road

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How has Gray performed so far this season?

Having already rubbed shoulders with the first-team on the opening day of the campaign, Gray has gone on to make four appearances for the under-21s and grabbed assists in Leeds’ comfortable wins over Derby County and Southampton.

His inclusion in the squad to face Wolves came just a matter of days before former Liverpool and England midfielder Jamie Redknapp claimed Gray is ‘a future England star’.

Gray, who joined Leeds as an under-nine, clearly has a bright future ahead of him and this could prove to be his breakthrough season at Elland Road.

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