Jesse Marsch has namechecked Sam Greenwood as a player in line for more Leeds gametime when Mateusz Klich leaves.
Klich is set to leave Leeds and move to MLS club DC United, and made a tearful goodbye at Elland Road after last night’s 2-2 draw with West Ham.
Marsch got involved in that, wearing a Klich t-shirt on the pitch along with the rest of the Whites players to show his appreciation.
Speaking to the press after the game, Marsch was asked about who might be a beneficiary of Klich’s impending exit, and the first name he mentioned was the 20-year-old Greenwood.
Marsch on Greenwood and Klich
The Leeds boss said: “Yeah, if you go just by games played, (Klich)’s one of the top guys since I’ve been here and obviously over the years, he’s played a lot and been a big piece of the team success.
“If you go through it, I think Sam can be an option to play a bit more. I think Jack, we use him from the bench, but certainly he can be an option in that position and Willy (Gnonto) and Cree (Summerville) can keep pushing themselves in sort of a eight-ten role.
“There’s Darko (Gyabi), I think Darko’s close. I think Sonny (Perkins) and Mateo (Joseph) are pushing themselves so there’s a lot of young guys I think that have potential to step in and see more time.”
Leeds put a real focus on getting quality young players into the club and Marcelo Bielsa did tend to give them a chance when they were ready.
Marsch clearly has the same ethos and Klich’s exit does now produce an opportunity for the likes of Greenwood to push on and seize a place in the side on a more regular basis.
Leeds moving away from the relegation zone would also help with that, because if a dogfight ensues, it is more tempting for a manager to stick with experienced players.