Leeds United’s U23s were in action on Monday evening, and the performance of one player earned such high plaudits that the west Yorkshiremen may have stumbled across a ready-made replacement for loanee Ben White.

What’s been said?

The young Whites side, which featured the likes of Barry Douglas, Ian Poveda and Tyler Roberts, drew 1-1 with Barnsley but it was young centre-back Pascal Struijk that received rave reviews for his display.

Beren Cross, who writes for LeedsLive, attended the match and handed the 20-year-old a 7/10 rating and also waxed lyrical about his performance.

No other player that featured received a higher rating either as the former Manchester City winger netted the only goal of the game with a strike that only epitomised ‘Bielsaball.’

Speaking in his recent article, he said:

“Led from the rear as he often does at this level. Mopped up a lot of home danger during the first half with the visitors under the cosh. Reliable in the air and on the deck under pressure.”

Beren Cross, LeedsLive.

White replacement

Marcelo Bielsa is likely to have a task on his hands later this summer as the fan-favourite loanee will return to parent club Brighton & Hove Albion.

This will leave a monumental void behind, especially with Gaetano Berardi out of contract at the end of the season and Liam Cooper’s ongoing injury troubles.

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The centre-back position is going to be rather high on the agenda regardless of the division they play in and other external factors.

Struijk has only played twice for the senior side at Elland Road, but this glowing endorsement only highlights the potential at his feet, especially as he clearly is pulling up trees with his “reliable” and consistent displays.

At the very least, the young Dutchman should be given an opportunity to impress during pre-season – maybe they can unearth their very own White, and save millions this summer, or even their biggest success story since Kalvin Phillips.

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Football Insider claim that the centre-back is “highly thought of” by Bielsa, so it would be right to put a little more faith in him by handing him such a chance in the near future.

And in other news, Stuart Dallas gives honest admission about Leeds run-in…