Leeds United’s U-23 star Callum Nicell signed a new contract at Elland Road this week, which would keep him at the club until 2020. The 18-year-old midfielder was in action against Bristol City for the U-23 side, where the Whites ran out 5-0 winners. He managed to run the show in midfield and even got a goal for himself. Anyone who has watched him play would say that the youngster is a potential senior team player.
The Irishman expressed his happiness after signing the contract by saying, ”It feels amazing, I have been here since the age of seven, so I’m delighted to sign again and stay here for longer. I’ve worked hard for it, but to be given a new deal before my current one runs out is even better, it takes some pressure off. Last year we won the league at the Under-18 level which was amazing, and a big team effort.”
”It was the last game and we had to get the result, to go down to 10 men and still win 1-0 was great. Now we are top of the league with the Under-23s, so hopefully, we can continue that. We’ve not lost yet, so hopefully, we can continue improving and see how long we can remain unbeaten.”- he added.
Nicell is yet to play for the senior side, but we believe he would certainly be in the reckoning to be promoted to the senior squad. When Garry Monk was the manager at Elland Road, he had Nicell train with the first team members and the midfielder seems to have all the facets to his game to be successful at the top level.
The 18-year-old can be a perfect box to box midfielder for the Whites in the future. He can control the tempo of the game and also has a knack of making late runs into the box and finding the back of the net.
The midfielder was the captain when he was part of the U-18 side and has previously won the ‘Academy Player of the Year’ award for Leeds. Playing for the U-23’s, he has shown that he can handle himself among the big boys as he shows great maturity on the field. What sets him apart is his ability to use both his feet to equal effect, which gives him that slight advantage in every situation.
We have seen how Kalvin Phillips has blossomed under Marcelo Bielsa but if the veteran manager feels he needs cover for someone like Phillips or Mateusz Klich, he could look up to young Nicell to fill in their boots for some time. Adam Forshaw is likely to be back from injury soon so he would claim that place in the middle of the park, but it would be the right time to give 18-year-old Nicell some exposure with the senior team in the ongoing campaign.
