Cody Drameh knows he faces a battle for senior minutes in a Leeds United shirt this season. The right-back has made one Premier League start under Jesse Marsch, stepping into the side to face Brentford at the start of September.
Despite the one-sided 5-2 scoreline, Drameh was one of those to emerge from the Gtech Community Stadium with his head held high, having turned in a strong performance against the Bees. However, with Luke Ayling and Rasmus Kristensen now considered to be fully fit, Drameh dropped out of the starting line-up this weekend and currently appears to be rooted behind the pair in Marsch’s pecking order.
As such, the 20-year-old lined up for the club’s U21 side on Friday night as Michael Skubala’s side saw off their Stoke City counterparts 4-0 to continue their unbeaten start to the Premier League 2 Division 2 season. Drameh was one of Leeds’ best on the night, combining well with Charlie Allen down the right edge and attacking with confidence and precision.
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The right-back sent out a clear statement of intent with his performance and Marsch will have been impressed by the performance, of that there is no doubt. As such, Skubala believes Drameh did his chances of senior action over the coming weeks absolutely no harm at all by stepping down.
“A really good professional performance from Cody,” Skubala said on Friday night at the LNER Community Stadium in York. “I think in moments he was really cute, he got forward well and defended well at times. He’s come down to get some minutes and it was a really strong performance from Cody.
“That’s his challenge, he wants to strive and he wants to be the number one right-back at the club and he’s another good young pro that knows he’s got to do work and he’s got some senior international players ahead of him. It’s hard for him but he’s showing the right attitude to keep going, which is good and we support him.”
Drameh certainly made the most of his opportunity for game time last week and he could even pick up more minutes on Tuesday night as the U21s take on Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park in the Papa John’s Trophy. Jesse Marsch has also revealed that Joe Gelhardt could be involved and Drameh could be one of several more established names joining him in Skubala’s side.
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