McDermott hopeful Byram is on his way to Leeds return
Yorkshire Post 10/9/13
by Leon Wobschall
THE emergency loan window is now open, but Leeds United could yet find answers ‘in house’ as they look to strengthen.
In the past year a significant number of young homegrown players have progressed into the first-team pool.
Doncaster-born Alex Mowatt, 18, recently made his debut for the Whites against his hometown club in the visitors’ Capital One Cup victory at the Keepmoat Stadium, while the success story of last season – teenager Sam Byram – made a further step towards a first-team return yesterday.
Byram, multiple-winner at United’s awards night last term, completed his first full 90 minutes of the season in yesterday’s development squad game against Sunderland at Thorp Arch.
It was a significant occasion for Byram, sidelined by a hip injury since the end of last season, and one not lost on manager Brian McDermott.
Any return by Byram to the first-team fray would serve as a big boost to McDermott, who also saw El-Hadji Diouf and Matt Smith gain some valuable game time yesterday.
McDermott said: “If something came up on loan that was right for us, we would do it if we can do that financially – there’s no doubt about it.
“(But) I’ve said in the past, I don’t like doing loan deals for the sake of it and that’s probably still my philosophy.
“Having said that, I’ll do it if it’s right. But it’s better for me if you can do a deal whereby you have someone on a longer term.
“We have our group we are working with. Sam Byram has played 90 minutes – imagine trying to sign Sam Byram for Leeds, that would cost a lot of money. Hopefully we’re getting him back.
“He’s getting there, which is really important. I don’t want to put any pressure on Sam and we’ll make sure he is right. Once he’s right, we shall see.”
Meanwhile, McDermott is adamant that Leeds-born Aidy White has a future at his hometown club despite starting just one game so far this term.
He said: “He’s been a Leeds player since the age of nine and wants to play for Leeds United.
“You want to give him and the players that are here every chance and not talk about players who might be here in the future.
“These guys want to play for Leeds United and so many of them love this club.”
Ross McCormack – a late substitute for Scotland in Friday’s loss to Belgium – is hoping to face Macedonia tonight.
United captain Rudy Austin misses Jamaica’s game with Costa Rica in Kingston after picking up two yellow cards in the weekend draw with Panama.
by Leon Wobschall
THE emergency loan window is now open, but Leeds United could yet find answers ‘in house’ as they look to strengthen.
In the past year a significant number of young homegrown players have progressed into the first-team pool.
Doncaster-born Alex Mowatt, 18, recently made his debut for the Whites against his hometown club in the visitors’ Capital One Cup victory at the Keepmoat Stadium, while the success story of last season – teenager Sam Byram – made a further step towards a first-team return yesterday.
Byram, multiple-winner at United’s awards night last term, completed his first full 90 minutes of the season in yesterday’s development squad game against Sunderland at Thorp Arch.
It was a significant occasion for Byram, sidelined by a hip injury since the end of last season, and one not lost on manager Brian McDermott.
Any return by Byram to the first-team fray would serve as a big boost to McDermott, who also saw El-Hadji Diouf and Matt Smith gain some valuable game time yesterday.
McDermott said: “If something came up on loan that was right for us, we would do it if we can do that financially – there’s no doubt about it.
“(But) I’ve said in the past, I don’t like doing loan deals for the sake of it and that’s probably still my philosophy.
“Having said that, I’ll do it if it’s right. But it’s better for me if you can do a deal whereby you have someone on a longer term.
“We have our group we are working with. Sam Byram has played 90 minutes – imagine trying to sign Sam Byram for Leeds, that would cost a lot of money. Hopefully we’re getting him back.
“He’s getting there, which is really important. I don’t want to put any pressure on Sam and we’ll make sure he is right. Once he’s right, we shall see.”
Meanwhile, McDermott is adamant that Leeds-born Aidy White has a future at his hometown club despite starting just one game so far this term.
He said: “He’s been a Leeds player since the age of nine and wants to play for Leeds United.
“You want to give him and the players that are here every chance and not talk about players who might be here in the future.
“These guys want to play for Leeds United and so many of them love this club.”
Ross McCormack – a late substitute for Scotland in Friday’s loss to Belgium – is hoping to face Macedonia tonight.
United captain Rudy Austin misses Jamaica’s game with Costa Rica in Kingston after picking up two yellow cards in the weekend draw with Panama.
