A regular place in the Leeds United first team is at the forefront of Jack Jenkins’ mind after he signed a new contract with the club.
The 19-year-old midfielder agreed a new deal which will keep him at the club until 2024 when he is hopeful he will be part of the senior squad.
Jenkins has impressed for Mark Jackson’s U23 side and joined both Charlie Cresswell and Liam McCarron in signing a new contract with the Whites.
He has already made his first-team debut as he came off the bench at half time in Leeds’ FA Cup defeat to Crawley Town last season.
However, he is still waiting to make an appearance in the Premier League and he revealed that a league debut is next on his list of aspirations.
“As always, it’s an amazing feeling to sign a contract, especially when it’s with your home club,” he said in an interview on the club's Twitter account.
“I’m over the moon and my family are all buzzing, I’m looking forward to the future.
“It means everything, I’ve been at Leeds since I was five years old. My dad, my grandad, my uncle, everyone supports them so to sign a new deal with them is amazing, especially for my family.
“For the next few years, I want to break into the Leeds first team and play in the Premier League with my home club, it’d mean everything to me.”
Jenkins, who has clearly impressed the Leeds hierarchy with his performances for the U23s, is considered an all-action midfielder but he himself admitted that he would like to be more of a threat in the opposition’s penalty area.
“Since the manager [Jackson] has come in, I think I’ve really developed as a player and I feel like I’m getting better and better every season,” he claimed.
“I just need to make that jump to the first team which I can hopefully do this season.
“I like to get on the ball, I like to dominate, I like to pass, I like to dribble and I’m aggressive when I want to be. I need to get some goals in my game now.”
With a real shortage of back-up options in the centre of midfielder in Marcelo Bielsa’s first-team squad at the moment, it might not be too long before Jenkins finds himself included in a matchday squad.
He clearly isn’t short of confidence and Leeds fans will be looking forward to seeing what he is able to offer over the next few seasons.
