Leaps from the academy to Leeds United’s first team have formed one of the big topics in this season’s difficult run to 17th place with four matches to play. Investment, at least in January, was resisted for fear of stifling the development pathways of Lewis Bate and Joe Gelhardt among others.
Angus Kinnear’s programme notes on that matter have never been far from supporters’ minds as they have watched their club fail to fight their way clear of the bottom three. Gelhardt may have breached 500 minutes in the Premier League, but Leo Hjelde, Sam Greenwood, Charlie Cresswell, Crysencio Summerville and Bate have barely played 600 minutes between them.
The time for inquests on decisions made in January and the like will come in due course, but as it stands, Pascal Struijk remains the poster boy for proven leaps from Thorp Arch’s academy to Elland Road’s first team. Injuries have hindered Jamie Shackleton’s own progress along that pathway, but Struijk is already onto 61 appearances with 48 starts for the first team since his debut under Marcelo Bielsa in December 2019.
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The Netherlands defender is six days short of being exactly three years older than the next centre-back off the production line, who already seems to be ahead of schedule. Cresswell, who could well be in the reckoning for his fourth first-team start this weekend, alongside Struijk no less, sees plenty of inspiration in the Dutchman’s journey.
While Struijk did not arrive at Thorp Arch until he was an Ajax-developed 18-year-old, Cresswell believes his team-mate’s progress is a lesson for all youngsters at the academy. While the vast majority of academy products have to pursue a career elsewhere in the game, Struijk is proof, if you are good enough, places are there to be had at Leeds under the right head coach.
Cresswell said: “I said in an interview before, Pascal gave everyone hope within the club they can achieve it, they can make the jump and stay. Pasc is a really good role model for that and for all of us in the 23s right now. We can all look at that and just keep pushing because we know if we work hard enough and stay at it, maybe the opportunity might come.”
After a senior debut in the EFL Cup last season, this year has seen a proper breakthrough for Cresswell, who shone in that Premier League bow against Michail Antonio. A call-up to the England under-21 squad at 19 has also made it a campaign to remember for the under-23 skipper.
“I set my goals at the start of the season and if someone told me I've played Premier League games and I've been called up to England under-21s I’d have snapped their hand off for it,” he said. “For me to have achieved that this season, it's not left me sitting back and taking it in, it’s motivated me because I want more. Once you get a taste of it you want more so I'm eager to get going next season.”
