A hat-trick from Patrick Bamford stole the headlines in Leeds United’s Elland Road romp on Friday night, but the real impact of his and other senior inclusions came off the field too. Luke Ayling, Junior Firpo and Liam Cooper also played valuable minutes in the 6-2 thrashing of Southampton.
With an impromptu 29-day break forced upon United's first team in the Premier League, Michael Skubala took on a handful of Jesse Marsch’s senior faces needing match time after limited minutes in the opening six matches. It meant regulars like Jeremiah Mullen, Kris Moore and Mateo Joseph were forced out of the starting line-up.
While Moore and Joseph were among those who emerged from the bench at Elland Road in the latter stages, Skubala was keen to point out the benefits they would have taken from the match despite less pitch time. Bamford’s triple was praised, but the under-21s boss pointed out the mentoring of youths like Joseph too.
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Skubala told LUTV: “Like a Rolls Royce, isn’t he? He’s superb and, again, leads from the front. Great finishes. Could have got more, but he’s cool, calm and collected.
“It’s just great to have him involved. His leadership skills are brilliant with the young lads, working with Mateo, you can see him talking to the lads about different things. Perfect.”
Bamford, left out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad, is unlikely to play, in public at least, again until Aston Villa’s Premier League trip to Leeds on October 2. It seems likely Marsch will look to keep players like his number nine ticking over behind closed doors in the meantime.
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