Lewis Bate claim made by Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa

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Marcelo Bielsa has suggested that Lewis Bate is doing enough to feature more often on the Leeds United first-team bench, insisting that the midfielder is incredibly hard-working – in comments reported by Leeds Live.

Bate is unquestionably one of the most exciting talents in the under-23 ranks at Thorp Arch. He has been lauded by the supporters on a number of occasions following appearances for Mark Jackson’s side.

Nevertheless, he is yet to really follow in the footsteps of Charlie Cresswell and Joe Gelhardt. Bate has made the Leeds bench on one occasion in the Premier League, being named on the team sheet for the draw with Leicester last month.

With Leeds’ squad being stretched right now, it may have surprised some to see the 19-year-old not included on the bench at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Mateusz Klich was the only senior figure amongst the substitutes for the clash with Chelsea.

Bielsa did however, suggest that Bate is knocking on the door as he was asked about what he needs to do.

“What he does is sufficient,” he said, as reported by Leeds Live. “A very hard-working person, very serious. Competing with players his age and those with stability in the first team. I observe, correctly or not, and I pick.”

Bielsa may want Leeds to take patient approach with Bate after Gelhardt success

It will be interesting to see how Bielsa uses Bate in the months ahead. Few Leeds fans would have believed you had they been told that Gelhardt would not make his debut in his first season at Elland Road. Like Bate, he took little time to establish himself as a fan favourite.

While Gelhardt waited, several others got their chance. And some of those do not find themselves at Leeds any longer.

So Bate may have to be prepared to bide his time. But Gelhardt is now in the mix. And that patience appears to have paid off, with Gelhardt opening his Premier League account at the weekend.

It seems inevitable that Bate will make that debut at some stage. But Bielsa will clearly not be rushed on deciding when.