Former Leeds United forward Noel Whelan says it is "amazing" to hear young Whites prospects receiving recognition on the international stage, stating it demonstrates the success of the club's development process.
Since the ushering in of the Andrea Radrizzani era, investment in youth has been an area of focus for the club and a number of talents appear to be on the cusp of a first-team breakthrough.
Since the beginning of the current international break, defender Charlie Cresswell has made his debut for England under-21s while Lewis Bate and Sam Greenwood have featured for the Three Lions at under-20 level.
Watching on from the bench as Cresswell made his first under-21s appearance was Cody Drameh and there would have been a third Leeds prodigy in the under-20s squad had Joe Gelhardt not withdrawn due to injury.
England under-21s boss Carsley spoke to LeedsLive about Cresswell and Drameh after they were named in his most recent matchday squad and was full of praise for the duo, whilst also offering kind words for Greenwood and Gelhardt.
Whelan told Football Insider : "I think it’s not only Leeds United fans who are recognising what’s happening within the academy.
"There’s a lot of work going into developing these young men coming through the academy and into the first team.
"It makes it even sweeter to hear Lee Carsley recognising that as well. It’s amazing to hear these young guys getting recognition because it means the process is successful.
"Sometimes you don’t have to go out and spend £60m, £70m, when you have that pathway which can bring players through gradually.
"That pathway is really bearing fruit now as we are seeing a lot of youngsters in the first team."
The improvement in the academy sides at Leeds has been evident to all and the under-23s clinched the Premier League 2 Division Two title last season under the guidance of Mark Jackson.
As well as heaping praise on a number of young Whites individuals, Carsley reserved praise for the the work being done by the Leeds academy in general.
He said: "I enjoy watching their under-23s play as well, I've been down to Thorp Arch a couple of times, I really like it, obviously their academy are doing a great job."
England are not the only nation benefitting from the progress made by players at Thorp Arch and Leo Hjelde recently became the youngest ever player to represent Norway under-21s.
He was joined in the side that beat Finland by goalkeeper Kristoffer Klaesson, who also completed 90 minutes.
Elsewhere, a Netherlands under-21 debut has been handed to Crysencio Summerville and Illan Meslier kept a clean sheet for France in the same age group.
Mateusz Bogusz, Stuart McKinstry and Alfie McCalmont complete the list of Leeds prospects who have been handed under-21s call-ups during the current international break, whilst there was recognition at under-19 level for Dutch goalkeeper Dani van den Heuvel and Scottish defender Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen.
