International call-up follows perfect debut for Leeds United U21s star in Tottenham win

Leeds United Under-21s returned to winning ways in York on Monday night.

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Young Leeds United goalkeeper Robbie Cook earned a clean sheet on his Under-21s debut last night in a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur.

Cook joined Leeds from Perth Glory in February 2025 and has had to remain patient, playing mostly at Under-18 level during his first year in Yorkshire. The 19-year-old was rewarded for his efforts with a place in Scott Gardner’s starting-XI on Monday, with Darryl Ombang on the bench fresh from confirmation of his youth loan to FC United of Manchester.

Rhys Chadwick scored the decisive goal midway through the second-half at the LNER Community Stadium in York, latching onto a cross from full-back Jayden Lienou, who impressed again. Australian Cook made a sublime first-half save to deny Tottenham’s James Wilson, one of several stops to keep things level before Leeds won it.

“Really buzzing with the result, obviously the clean sheet,” Cook told LUTV. “And to be fair, I didn’t perform too bad so I was pretty happy with that! The boys really put a good shift out there. It was really good.

“I am very happy with that debut. I have been working pretty hard to get an opportunity and it has taken a long time, but it has worked out so hopefully just keep going on from that.

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“I have really pushed myself day in, day out from the start, especially in the first season where I was injured the whole time. I just kept working and then obviously it has worked out.”

Leeds had lost consecutive games in Premier League 2 heading into Monday against West Ham and Sunderland, conceding eight goals in the process. And so the keeping of a clean sheet was of paramount importance, with Cook certainly playing his part in the victory.

Leeds United head coach on important U21s win

“It is really important to win after the run that we have had recently,” head coach Gardner added. “We have had some tough games clearly, with a young group, but a lot of character there and fairly comfortable throughout the game.

“It looked like we eradicated a lot of the problems this evening, so that should give them a lot of confidence going forward for the next three or four games that we have got.

“[Cook was] Excellent, really solid performance. He has had to be patient. We talked about sometimes you have to wait for your opportunity and he has done that and he has taken it with both hands, so fair play to him.”

Cook’s week got even better shortly after that clean sheet, with the goalkeeper called up to represent Australia Under-19s during the upcoming international break. He will be part of a squad that faces China twice later this month.