Bradford City boss Gary Bowyer has been sharing a glowing report on Leeds United's youngster Paudie O'Connor after his recent spell with the Bantams.
He's still at Valley Parade but will leave them in the summer knowing he was unable to stop them sliding into League Two.
It’s been a tough season for the defender, he endured a challenging loan spell with Blackpool where chances were at a premium, then struggled to help Bradford out of their rut.
Their problems ran much deeper than O’Connor though, with a clear out needed in the summer as Bowyer looks to put them back on track. If the gaffer wants the 21-year-old back at Valley Parade, it’s something he should seriously consider.
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His Leeds United career is going nowhere and after a handful of matches for both his loan clubs, he wouldn’t be near the first team there either.
They’ve got a relatively settled side and whether they’re Championship or Premier League next season, the best Paudie O’Connor could hope for is some EFL Cup action and the Under 23 scene.
That’s not in his best interests right now. To have experienced senior football, albeit patchy, he needs to be back in the men’s game. Youth football won’t help him develop and if he were to drop out of sight again it would seriously damage his long-term prospects.
In an ideal world, the Irish defender would find another League One club and play at the highest level possible, but perhaps a move back to the Bantams wouldn’t be so bad. League Two is highly competitive and as Callum O’Hare and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy have found out, it’s no walk in the park either.
If Paudie O’Connor wants to toughen up, develop his aggression and instincts as well as his fitness, then he needs senior football and maybe the cut and thrust of the basement division is just the place to do it.
Who knows, with an impressive 46 game season behind him, Paudie O’Connor might be a first team prospect yet.
Just not right now.