Leeds United U23 manager Mark Jackson has praised his captain Charlie Cresswell for his leadership skills and admits the 18-year-old possesses attributes that are a 'dying breed' in the modern game.
Cresswell played 45 minutes in the first half during Leeds' defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in Premier League 2 yesterday and he will be hoping to feature for Marcelo Bielsa's side in the Carabao Cup tonight against Crewe Alexandra.
He made his first-team debut last season in their penalty shootout defeat to Hull City behind-closed-doors at Elland Road but could make his second first-team appearance in front of the packed out Elland Road.
Jackson handed Cresswell his first U23s appearance last season after he played 45 minutes in their 2-2 draw with Wolves but just three games into his step up to Premier League 2, he was named captain in their win over Middlesbrough.
The 43-year-old heaped praise on his captain as the first team gear up for the second-round clash against the League One outfit.
"I think it's a dying breed in the modern game. I tried to be quite vocal myself when I was a player, nowhere near the ability of Charlie or the players in this group but I tried to talk," he told Leeds Live after their defeat on Monday.
"Charlie's got that, he understands how to lead and we've been working with him a long time, in the academy even, when he first broke through in the 18s as a 16-year-old, [working] on his leadership skills.
"But like anything, with his football skills, leadership skills can be developed. Even on the bench in the second half, he's still talking behind me so that's a positive because you don't find many of them these days and we've got to try and embrace that, he's got to try embrace it and develop it as well - and that's a real positive within his game."
Jackson believes the opportunity for his lads to play in front of a sold-out Elland Road crowd is 'typical Leeds'.
He added: "To get a full packed house in a cup game is fantastic, typical Leeds. Brilliant. Listen, if some of the [U23] boys are involved, they'll soak it in, it's not unusual for them because they're in and around with the manager Marcelo every day and his staff working with the first-team.
"Some have been involved in the squads last season and even at the weekend as well so if a chance comes along for these players, I'm sure they'll be ready to take that opportunity."
