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Leeds United pair receive Thorp Arch backing after summer arrivals

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Michael Skubala has only been through the door at Leeds United a week but has already earmarked new signings Sonny Perkins and Darko Gyabi for success at Elland Road.

Leeds signed the pair from West Ham and Manchester City respectively this summer, with both highly thought of by those at Leeds and beyond. They are both regarded as players with futures at the very highest level. 

Gyabi cost the club a reported £5m from Manchester City, whereas Perkins’ move could go to a tribunal panel if a compensation fee cannot be agreed with West Ham after the player rejected their contract proposals.

Skubala has worked with Perkins before, at England under-18 level, and he is backing him to be a success at the club, as per LeedsLive.

“As a club we have to be patient with Sonny because his role is slightly changing within our philosophy, so we have to give him time. No doubt he will be a success for this club, in my eyes. I know Sonny really well. He’s a great athlete, a superb, humble human being.”

Quiz: 15 questions about Leeds United’s Darko Gyabi – Can you score 100%?

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Gyabi also impressed the new under-21s boss on Friday after their 5-2 win over Derby at Pride Park. He has also worked with Skubala at England youth level.

“You can see Darko’s quality. Darko does lovely stuff on the ball, he turns out of pockets where you’re thinking ‘how’s he got out of there?’ 

“You forget how young he is because he looks so strong, we just have to get him better at knowing when and where not to do that. He can influence the game.”

Both players need to spend most of their time within the youth set-up this season. The likes of Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood have taken their time and got the rewards in the first-team eventually.

This doesn’t mean Perkins and Gyabi should never play, but that they should be used sparingly and get small patches of developmental minutes where they can. 

It’s important to nurture these young players carefully instead of thrusting them straight in the deep end to help a struggling team. Too many times last season our bench was full of youngsters asked to make a difference because the squad was too thin. It would be nice to give out minutes in less desperate circumstances, when the time is right for both this season.

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