Aapo Halme’s rapid rise suggests he can become a Leeds regular soon

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Leeds United defender Aapo Halme made his first-team debut at the weekend, helping to keep a clean sheet in a 2-0 win.

Due to a defensive injury crisis, Marcelo Bielsa called Halme up to the first-team and the youngster started against Bristol City at Elland Road.

After a solid if not spectacular debut, Halme will be eyeing more first-team chances in the near future.

When Bielsa has all his options available again, Halme is likely to drop to the bench as Pontus Jansson and Liam Cooper have formed a solid partnership this season.

But Halme’s rapid rise to the first-team is an indication of how much he is improving.

The 20-year-old joined Leeds from HJK Helsinki in January 2018 but suffered an injury shortly after arriving.

After around nine months on the sidelines, Halme was a forgotten man at Elland Road.

But he bounced back this season and his under-23 performances have seen him rise above a number of other young defenders in the pecking order.

Halme played for just three months in the youth side before his first-team promotion.

That rise is evidence that the towering 6ft 5in defender is improving at a rapid rate.

If he continues to develop his game like this, it won’t be long before the Finland under-21 international is ousting Cooper from the starting line-up.