Leeds United attacker Izzy Brown made his first strides towards first-team action after featuring for 45 minutes in the Whites’ under-23 clash against Birmingham City.

The playmaker is yet to make an appearance under Marcelo Bielsa since arriving on loan from Chelsea, as he looks to make his comeback from a long-term knee injury.

But the former Huddersfield loanee featured for 45 minutes in Leeds under-23’s 3-0 defeat to Birmingham at Thorp Arch on Friday afternoon - his return was the only bright spark on a dour afternoon.

After the game, Brown admitted that it’s “never felt so good to be on a pitch”, after a gruelling ten months out with injury.

Leeds have been desperately unlucky with injuries this term, with the likes of Kemar Roofe, Pablo Hernandez and Gaetano Berardi all spending time on the sidelines, therefore the addition of Brown is bound to be hugely welcomed by the Elland Road faithful.

The Whites currently sit third in the Championship table, just one point off 2nd placed Middlesbrough.

The Verdict

This is such positive news for Leeds and Marcelo Bielsa - Brown will feel like a new signing and it’s bound to be a huge boost to an already thin squad. He was impressive for Huddersfield and if he can reproduce that form for Leeds, they have a very good player on their hands.