A couple of young Leeds United stars have made the matchday squad at Spurs this evening.
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Daniel Farke could hand Leeds United debuts to a pair of young stars at Tottenham Hotspur this evening.
Rhys Chadwick and Jayden Lienou are two surprise inclusions in the matchday squad for Leeds’ Premier League trip to Tottenham Hotspur. The pair have replaced Noah Okafor and Jayden Bogle in the set up, with the former suffering a calf strain while the latter’s absence is due to a hamstring issue.
With Leeds mathematically safe from relegation following West Ham’s weekend defeat to Arsenal, Farke has looked to the academy with a couple of youngsters eyeing their senior debuts. Below, the YEP has all you need to know on the pair.
Who is Rhys Chadwick?
Chadwick might be a little better known to Leeds fans, given his previous involvement in first-team pre-season. The midfielder was in Germany with Farke’s squad last summer and has been involved in training sessions with the senior group throughout the campaign.
Eighteen-year-old Chadwick is a versatile midfielder who signed his first professional deal back in 2024, putting pen to paper on fresh terms in January this year. That new contract came amid another excellent individual campaign with the teenager registering five goals and three assists in 18 Premier League 2 appearances for the Under-23s.
Versatility is one of Chadwick’s strong points, with the youngster operating across multiple midfield roles, right-wing and even centre-back this season. The teenager rose through the Thorp Arch ranks with long-time pal and fellow academy star Sam Chambers, with both featuring in last summer’s pre-season friendly meeting with Manchester United.
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Who is Jayden Lienou?
Lienou has been in West Yorkshire for a much shorter period, having signed a three-year deal in the summer from Manchester City. He was part of City’s Under-18 Premier League-winning team having started his youth career at Everton.
The full-back has made an instant impact with the Under-23s, with 19 Premier League 2 appearances yielding one assist and plenty of eye-catching passes. He’s also featured regularly across the National League Cup and EFL trophy.
The 18-year-old is a Welsh Under-19 international and hugely exciting prospect, having regularly impressed with his quality in possession for Scott Gardner’s side. The former Everton academy prospect has caught the eye with his brilliant passing range and is highly regarded as one of the most promising youngsters at Thorp Arch.
Chadwick and Lienou debut chances
The young pair will be dreaming of a potential introduction off the bench this evening, and the lack of real jeopardy from a Leeds perspective could open the door. Farke will be desperate to keep his side’s six-game unbeaten run going, however, and is unlikely to gift debuts.
Chadwick might have a slightly better chance at coming on, given his previous exposure to first-team football even if only at pre-season friendly level. The teenager’s versatility means he could replace the likes of Ao Tanaka or Anton Stach in midfield, or even someone like Daniel James in a wider role.
Any introduction for Lienou will almost certainly be at left-wing back, where James Justin is starting. Farke also has the experienced Sam Byram to call on this evening but even if Premier League minutes don’t come, tonight will be an incredible experience for both.