Could Olly Casey celebrate new Leeds contract by securing spot on bench on Thursday?

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Leeds United handed their supporters a further boost ahead of Thursday’s potentially-pivotal clash with Barnsley by announcing on their official website on Tuesday that Oliver Casey has signed a new three-year deal at Elland Road.

Casey has flirted with first-team football this season. The 19-year-old has been named in numerous matchday squads by Marcelo Bielsa, and he made his debut back in December.

His most recent appearance in a matchday squad came in the final game before the season was halted.

It would arguably be a surprise if Casey managed to add a second appearance to his tally before the campaign concluded.

But perhaps, he stands an outside chance of celebrating his new contract by returning to the bench in one of the coming games.

As reported by Leeds Live, Casey was amongst the players available for Sunday’s trip to Swansea City.

He was not involved at the Liberty Stadium. But since then, Leeds have lost Kalvin Phillips for the rest of the season due to injury (via Yorkshire Evening Post).

Bielsa confirmed, in comments reported by Leeds Live, that Ben White is set to replace Phillips. That would presumably mean that Gaetano Berardi will step into the defence.

Spot on the bench for Casey?

There should therefore, be a space on the bench for another player to come in.

And given Casey’s ability to play at centre-back or in holding midfield, he is surely one of the most obvious candidate to come into the fold.

He can provide cover for both Berardi and White.

Casey was arguably as impressive as a late substitute can be when he came on for the final minutes against Huddersfield. He looked composed on the ball, and seemed to adapt extremely well.

His new contract shows that his development has clearly continued at an impressive rate. And perhaps his latest reward could be a promotion to the bench at such an important time for the club.