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Ricky Charlesworth

Steve Evans takes the credit for launching the careers of former Leeds United pair

It's fair to say Steve Evans' time at Leeds United won't live long in the memory.

The Scot was in charge for just seven months and led the side to a mediocre 13th-placed finish in the second tier in 2015-16.

He did however hand debuts to a clutch of players at Elland Road.

And whilst two of them may no longer ply their trade at Leeds, they did at least boost the club's coffers significantly after being sold on.

Evans made a point of highlighting that he gave first-team opportunities to youngsters during his brief Elland Road stint.

Evans, speaking to Kent Online, said: "There are kids I played at Leeds - Ronaldo Vieira and Bailey Peacock-Farrell, who is now playing for Burnley in the Premier League.

"I gave kids like that their debut.

“I never thought about their age.

“I just looked at them training and looked at them playing and I thought ‘if you are good enough you are old enough’.

“It doesn’t matter to me whether you are 18 or 28."

Vieira left the Whites in the summer of 2018 for a fee of £7million whilst 12 months later Northern Ireland international Peacock-Farrell joined Burnley for £2.5m.

Evans, now in charge at League One side Gillingham, made the comments when quizzed on how he plans to manage the development of 18-year-old goalkeeper Joe Walsh.

He said: "He will play at our level the minute we can’t reach those play-offs, if that happens, and he will get the opportunity to make his proper debut and play football."

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