Is Summerville threatening to follow in Struijk’s footsteps at Leeds?

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Had Leeds United fans been asked to pick a hero to come on and help them see out a chaotic game against Barnsley as promotion loomed last season, it seems unlikely that many would have picked out Pascal Struijk as the man to come to the Whites’ rescue.

Struijk had played a couple of times before that game. But he had gone several months without a first-team appearance before that clash at Elland Road.

However, the 21-year-old’s introduction proved to be inspired. And what made the appearance all the more remarkable was that Struijk was deployed in a holding midfield role having almost exclusively played as a centre-back for the under-23s.

It came as a huge surprise to supporters. But, judging by comments made by Patrick Bamford after the game, his display did not shock anyone in the dressing room.

Bamford highlighted how Struijk had shone in a murderball session ahead of the season’s resumption.

“To be honest, Pascal, since he came back from lockdown, has been brilliant,” he said, as reported by Leeds Live.

“We were doing murderball sessions and he was on the opposite team, he was playing in that holding midfield role and, I’m not joking you, I was getting absolutely screamed at by the manager because he was just getting the ball every time and I couldn’t get anywhere near him.”

Struijk has gone on to establish himself as a first-team player in the Premier League. And perhaps, the player ready to follow in his footsteps has now emerged.

Leeds fans seem incredibly excited about Crysencio Summerville following his arrival last summer.

The Dutchman has been outstanding for Mark Jackson’s under-23s. And it looks to be a matter of time before Marcelo Bielsa hands him a first-team debut.

What will certainly help is Summerville emulating Struijk by shining on the training ground. The winger posted a video of an outrageous goal he scored seemingly during a murderball session.

Summerville has the ball on the halfway line before dancing past several opponents and taking the ball round the goalkeeper.

It is not clear which players the 19-year-old was up against or whether Bielsa was in attendance. But there is no question that the boss will know about the goal.

Summerville could arguably be one of the biggest winners when Leeds make themselves mathematically safe.

Bielsa is surely unlikely to throw in too many under-23s before now and the end of the campaign. But the best will certainly be an eyeing an opportunity.

And based on his recent form and latest goal, there is surely no question that Summerville is indeed one of those knocking on the door.