One member of the Leeds United squad has been praised by a former Manchester United coach having exceeded his expectations as a player.
Jack Harrison took the road less travelled in his career before eventually establishing himself as a Premier League player.
After spending time in the Liverpool and Manchester United academies, Leeds United winger Harrison left the UK, playing in the American system as a youth player.
Having broken into the New York City FC first team, Harrison returned to the UK with Manchester City, before becoming a regular as Leeds under Marcelo Bielsa.
Now, one of Harrison’s former academy coaches has admitted that he was surprised by his success, having spent time with the Leeds man as a youngster at Manchester United.
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Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images Jack Harrison has surprised former Manchester United academy coach
Speaking to the Left Field podcast, hosted by former Premier League defender Stephen Caulker, former Man Utd academy coach Neil Harris explained why he had been surprised by Harrison’s career.
According to Harris, the Leeds winger was a relatively late developer, as he name-checked him alongside the likes of Michael Keane and Dwight McNeil as players who did not make it in the Man Utd Academy.
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Harris said: “There’s maybe a couple that surprise you in terms of you know, they come on a little bit later.
“So, James Garner, Brandon Williams, who were always good players, but you know, you look at Ben Brereton Diaz, Dwight McNeil, Michael Keane, Jack Harrison, you know, these players that maybe their journey ended a little bit earlier.
“Josh Brownhill, captain of Burnley up to last season. You know, these players that were all very good players.”
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty ImagesJack Harrison could help Daniel Farke solve key Leeds United weakness
Harrison is not a universally popular figure at Leeds, as one of the last remaining survivors of the club’s previous relegation from the Premier League.
However, at his best, Harrison is a diligent worker who has shown that he can be a threat in the top flight, having occasionally shone under Marcelo Bielsa.
Daniel Farke’s pre-Man City press conference
Farke called out Leeds’ leaky left-hand side after the defeat against Aston Villa, with a torrent of goals arriving down that side in recent weeks.
Although Harrison does not provide enough to be a regular starter for Leeds, he is still a useful option to help close out a game. If Leeds can take a lead into the closing stages of a game, he could help take the pressure off Gabriel Gudmundsson as a late substitute.
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