Attacking, blitzing defences, chopping full-backs inside out and scoring screamers are everything Leeds United have come to expect from Crysencio Summerville, but there’s more. The 20-year-old hit a hat-trick at Elland Road in front of more than 4,000 supporters watching the Premier League 2 win over Crystal Palace.
It was arguably his best performance in a season which has taken him to the fringes of the first team and well ahead of under-23s football when he is at his very best. Summerville reached the point in January where he asked to leave Leeds in pursuit of more first-team opportunities, much like Cody Drameh did ahead of his switch to Cardiff City.
While Marcelo Bielsa agreed, the former head coach said the club did not want to lose another asset when there was no replacement ready to come into the club. Performances like Monday’s underline why the Netherlands under-21 international feels he should be playing at a higher level each week.
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Under-23s boss Andrew Taylor waxed lyrical about the winger after the match and said there was much more to marvel at in his game beyond goals and attacking. He said: “I was a left-back and I couldn’t think of anything worse than playing against Cry, let me tell you.
“Everything going forward he’s fantastic at, but he doesn’t just stop there, he does the defensive work as well, he works really hard. He’s picked up the press really well, he presses really aggressively and wins the ball back high up, which then gives us an opportunity to go and score a goal so, no, it was a fantastic performance from him.”
The injury crisis which has crippled the first team this season has had a predictable knock-on effect for the under-23s, who have seen their best talents called up and made unavailable at times for Premier League 2 matches. The likes of Joe Gelhardt, Leo Hjelde, Summerville, Charlie Cresswell and Sam Greenwood have played far fewer minutes than some of their counterparts, but when they do turn out, as they did Monday, the results are very impressive.
Taylor is delighted when they are available to him, but admits under-23 success is all about producing players so good they quickly become too important for that level. He said: “I’ve said in a few interviews, it’s not all about getting all of the best 23s.
“From a selfish point of view, yes we’d love them every week, but, to me, success is not having those guys because it means they’re in the first team. That’s the whole point of it.
“We’ve got good players underneath those as well, but yes, from a selfish point of view it’s a pleasure to have them in the squad.”
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