Marcelo Bielsa praises Leeds youngster Jordan Stevens

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Marcelo Bielsa has offered encouragement for Leeds United youngster Jordan Stevens by stating he’s got the quality to play in his team in attack.

The 19-year-old only moved to Elland Road in January after leaving League Two club Forest Green Rovers and is extremely highly-rated.

He’s a versatile midfielder that can play in a central role or has quite often been used in a wide role too for Leeds’ Under-23s side due to his pace.

Stevens did make his first-team debut for the Whites back in January off the bench against Stoke City and featured amongst the substitutes in five games since.

The Englishman was in the squad in midweek for the win away to Preston, but didn’t get on for his second appearances.

Bielsa has praised the quality of Stevens ahead of the next game against Sheffield Wednesday and his words should be a lift for the teenager.

“For the players not involved with us who have no minutes in the Championship I am very focused on them in training and with the under-23s,” Bielsa said in his press conference, as cited by Leeds Live.

“He has all the necessary skills to play on the side in attack. Good quality and speed too.”

TBR’s View:

Not only has Bielsa turned Leeds into a team that currently occupy an automatic promotion spot in the Championship, but he’s managed to show a real attention to detail when it comes to the club’s academy too.

The Yorkshire giants have five league games to try get over the line for promotion and part of their success has been the breakthrough stars at the club.

Jamie Shackleton and Jack Clarke have enjoyed regular first-team minutes, which is something that Stevens can try to match moving into next year.

Bielsa has been very smart by praising speed machine Stevens and he definitely appears to be in the manager’s thoughts.