Who are Rhys Chadwick and Jayden Lienou? Leeds youngsters eye Premier League debuts at Tottenham | OneFootball

Daniel Farke could hand Leeds United debuts to Rhys Chadwick and Jayden Lienou at Tottenham this evening after both made the matchday squad.

According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, the teenagers are surprise inclusions for the Premier League trip, replacing Noah Okafor, sidelined by a calf strain, and Jayden Bogle, out with a hamstring issue. With Leeds mathematically safe following West Ham’s weekend defeat to Arsenal, the head coach has looked to the academy.

Chadwick, 18, joined first-team pre-season last summer and has trained with the seniors throughout the campaign. The versatile midfielder signed his first professional deal in 2024 then fresh terms in January, posting five goals and three assists in 18 Premier League Two games for the Under-23s.

He has featured across midfield, at right wing and even centre-back this season.

Lienou signed a three-year contract in the summer from Manchester City, having earlier been at Everton, and was part of City’s Under-18 title-winning side. The full-back has 19 Premier League Two appearances for the Under-23s with one assist and an eye for incisive passing. The 18-year-old is a Wales Under-19 international.

Both might see minutes off the bench tonight, although Farke will want to protect a six-game unbeaten run and is unlikely to gift debuts. Chadwick’s exposure could help, with scope to cover Ao Tanaka or Anton Stach in midfield, or Daniel James in a wider role. Any Lienou outing would almost certainly be at left wing-back, where James Justin starts, with Sam Byram another option.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk