Who is Jayden Lienou? Leeds youngster with 'high potential' eyeing Wales debut against Romania | OneFootball

Leeds United prospect Jayden Lienou, 18, could make his senior Wales debut tonight against Romania, bolstering the club’s Welsh contingent.

According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, Wales missed out on the 2026 World Cup, with June friendlies against Ghana and Romania aiding Craig Bellamy’s planning. Karl Darlow, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu and Daniel James featured against Ghana while Lienou stayed on the bench.

A debut would make him the sixth Leeds player to feature under Bellamy, alongside that quartet and teenage midfielder Charlie Crew.

He joined Leeds last summer on a three-year deal from Manchester City, having helped City win the Under-18 Premier League after earlier years at Everton.

The full-back quickly impressed with the Under-23s, logging 19 Premier League 2 appearances and one assist, and also played in the National League Cup and EFL Trophy. He has 23 Wales youth caps across age groups.

He was named on the bench for two of Leeds’ final three Premier League matches, at Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton, during injuries to fellow full-backs Gabriel Gudmundsson and Jayden Bogle.

Bellamy said he has monitored Lienou with Leeds’ Under-21s and Wales youth sides and, if a space opens up, wants him involved, believing he has a real chance. He highlighted mobility, versatility and physical attributes, while stressing there is development still to come and praising Leeds’ work.

James added that Lienou has trained regularly with the first team, impressed across the season and deserves to sample this camp, noting familiar faces will help. He described him as one for the future.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk