Former Leeds United forward Noel Whelan believes Whites defender Tom Pearce needs to return to training 'all guns blazing' if he is to avoid being sent out on loan this summer.
The 21-year-old broke into the Whites first-team under Paul Heckingbottom in 2018, but after making just two Championship appearances under Marcelo Bielsa, Pearce spent the second half of last season on loan at League One Scunthorpe, where he made nine appearances scoring once.
But with Ezgjan Alioski and Barry Douglas both already competing to be the Whites' first-choice left-back, Whelan, who made 48 appearances scoring seven times for the Elland Road club, believes that another loan move away is on the cards for the Ormskirk-born youngster if he fails to impress during pre-season training.
“He’s definitely got come back and he’s got to come back firing,” the 44-year-old told Football Insider.
“You’re trying to oust Alioski, who was excellent up until that final three, four games where he got injured. He was keeping out Barry Douglas, who was promoted the season before with Wolves, so you’ve got two really, really good left wing backs that can play box to box with good quality.
“He’s got to come in all guns blazing to show the manager he’s not worth to be loaned out and he’s definitely needed at the football club. If he can’t do that, he will be loaned out again, it’s as simple as that.”
Leeds are set to return to pre-season training on Monday June 24, with their first pre-season friendly taking place at York City on Wednesday June 10.
