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Ben Parker has praised Leeds United youngster Niall Huggins for his performance on the weekend in the defeat to Arsenal.

The Whites were beaten 4-2 away to Arsenal in the Premier League, which was a result that meant they dropped back into the bottom half of the table.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side had a four-goal deficit shortly after half-time, but there was at least a fight back in the second half.

Another positive outcome of the second-half was the first-team debut that Bielsa handed out to Huggins.

The versatile 20-year-old star was substituted onto the field early in the second half to make his senior debut and it’ll surely be a memorable one at the Emirates Stadium.

Parker was left majorly impressed with the youngster’s contribution:

“If anybody has been watching the Under-23s game in game out, he’s been the standout player of me,” Parker told the LS11 podcast.

“For a debut as well he played a minimum three positions. He came on as a number eight, went to right-back, went to left-back and I’m thinking poor lad… but he’s used to that in the Under-23s.

“He fully deserved his opportunity. He just seemed at ease. He’s always comfortable on the ball, comfortable receiving possession, intensity is good at closing down. He’s a typical Bielsa player really. I was delighted for him to make his debut… That was a huge positive coming away from the game.”

TBR’s View:

As Parker points out, Huggins was used in three different positions during his Leeds debut and it shows real maturity to do that.

He’s played in various different roles during his development with the Leeds Under-23s, which is why it’s so important the youth team play with the same style as the senior group.

He’s predominantly been used as a left-back this season despite the fact he can play further up the pitch and he’ll now be hoping he can kick on at Elland Road after having a taste of the first team.