Leeds United have named 15-year-old Archie Gray, the great-nephew of Whites legend Eddie Gray, in their matchday squad for Saturday evening's clash against Arsenal at Elland Road.
Marcelo Bielsa has been forced to rely on some of his academy graduates to step up to the first team, as the Whites are without 10 senior players due to injury and suspension.
Kalvin Phillips (hamstring), Patrick Bamford (hamstring), Daniel James (muscle), Liam Cooper (hamstring), Diego Llorente (knock), Rodrigo Moreno (heel), Pascal Struijk (foot), Charlie Cresswell (knock) and Jamie Shackleton (heel) are all ruled out with injury, while Junior Firpo is serving a one-match suspension.
📋 Robin Koch returns, a first Premier League start for Cody Drameh, whilst Joe Gelhardt starts up front pic.twitter.com/fBLcMTZfPR
— Leeds United (@LUFC) December 18, 2021
Gray, born in April 2006, has made 11 appearances for the academy side this campaign and the teenager could become Leeds's youngest ever player – beating the previous record set by Peter Lorimer back in September 1962 – if he comes on as a substitute against Arsenal.
Bielsa has also handed a full Premier League debut to 19-year-old right-back Cody Drameh, who has previously made two substitute appearances against Norwich City and Manchester City, while Robin Koch has returned to the starting lineup after several months out with a pelvic injury.
Leeds will be looking to bounce back from their humiliating 7-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday and avoid a fourth successive league game without a win.
Oliver Thomas
