There's never a good time to bring a youngster into the fold, not if you're to believe the so-called experts.

In a relegation battle, they don't have the experience or the mental strength to run the gauntlet of hate, but when you're chasing promotion they don't have the quality or clinical edge. It's a wonder any young players ever get through.

Over at Leeds United, they're not in any danger of going up or down after a thoroughly disappointing season. It is hard for fans at Elland Road to find any real positives to take from their campaign, perhaps only that Cellino is gone and they're not in the bottom three.

With a series of dead rubber games left, Paul Heckingbottom looks set to turn to youth, perhaps doing so at a perfect time. Sure, Leeds United isn't a nice place to be at the moment, but the youngsters won't get the blame. Bailey Peacock-Farrell has been given a chance and done well, as has Tom Pearce. Next up is Sam Dalby and he might just have saved the best for last.

Dalby crept into the Leyton Orient first team as they slid out of the Football League, perhaps proving the sentiment from my second paragraph. He did do enough to alert a few scouts though and Leeds United swooped in January, despite him only having a handful of National League outings. He's had two months with the Championship side and calls for his inclusion are getting louder by the day.

Orient player James Drayton said of Dalby: "He’s left-footed, has a lovely touch and he’s very aware of space. He is very natural at taking the ball into space and away from pressure and for such a young lad to do that is unbelievable."

Former Wolves player George Elokobi agreed:  “Sam is a fantastic kid, always willing to listen and learn whenever he trained with the first-team. He is a very level-headed boy and I can only wish him the best."

With the first team struggling for goals, Dalby made the headlines with a brace for the U23 side, sinking Ipswich 3-2. That took him to four in six since his move, but as well as an eye for goal his hold up play has drawn praise. All around Leeds the young man's name keep getting whispered, how long before he features in the starting XI?

I'd say his emergence is almost inevitable, mix his talent with Heckingbottom's willingness to give young players a go and the outcome is a forgone conclusion. Now is the time, when there's no pressure for results, other than the need to please fans. Dalby can come into a Championship side and truly show what he can do without the fear of relegation, without the pressure of a promotion race and without a fan-favourite making way. Few Leeds fans would bat an eyelid if I replaced Caleb Ekuban or Pierre-Michel Lasogga, so they certainly won't begrudge an exciting talent a place in the first team.