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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Deadline day part two witnessed yet another frantic period for Leeds.
After the rigmarole that brought about Illan Meslier and Eddie Nketiah’s loan arrivals before the deadline for the Championship and Premier League, another day of transfer activity played out on Monday.
This time it was the closure for the rest of the Football League and European clubs.
There were a number of exits at Leeds as Vurnon Anita left via mutual consent whilst Laurens De Bock joined Sunderland and Conor Shaughnessy headed for Mansfield temporarily.
But perhaps the most understated departure was teenager Callum Nicell.
The midfielder was someone with plenty of promise but had fallen behind in the pecking order at Leeds.
After all, the Whites have the likes of Jamie Shackleton, Alfie McCalmont and Mateusz Bogusz all vying for a place in the U23s, let alone senior minutes.
For someone like Nicell to leave it may not come as too big a surprise but it should have alarm bells ringing in the ears of Marcelo Bielsa and it should serve as a warning.
In 2016/17, he was named the Academy Player of the Year at Leeds. Ultimately he never went onto earn a first-team appearance and that is where concerns should lie.
Because of a lack of opportunities one of their best young talents has walked out of the door and that happens all too often around the football world.
But it could start to happen more regularly at Leeds if they’re not careful, as it has already with players like Clarke Oduor and Tom Pearce.
Garry Monk appeared to be a fan of Nicell, including him in the squad against Fulham in 2017 whilst he also featured on the bench against Preston under Paul Heckingbottom.
But under Bielsa he never got a chance. For someone who once won a major accolade at the club this seems strange.
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The Argentine so far this season has preferred to have a number of his senior players featuring for the U23s. Individuals like Helder Costa, Gaetano Berardi and Shackleton have all appeared.
But they are above that level and it seems foolish to include them in the squad at the expense of players who can use it to develop.
Already this term we’ve seen Bielsa hint at using Mateusz Bogusz but then only play him once so there is a lesson to be learned here with the youth setup.
In practise, someone who was once Academy Player of the Year shouldn’t be allowed to seep through the net but that’s exactly what’s happened.
As a result, Leeds must ensure there is a clearer path to the first team and that those at the top of the academy get their chance.
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