Archie Gray was given a slightly new role by Daniel Farke on Sunday afternoon as Leeds United secured a 0-0 draw against Norwich City at Carrow Road and Jon Newsome has given his verdict.
Gray, 18, clocked up his 50th appearance for Farke’s men on Sunday as Leeds did battle with the German manager’s old side Norwich in the play-off semi-finals first leg in East Anglia, with the game ending 0-0.
The young midfielder has been superb this season, winning the Championship’s Young Player of the Season award after making his debut on the opening day of the season in a 2-2 draw with Cardiff.
Having been dropped for the 2-1 loss to Southampton, Gray was reinstated by Farke into the starting line-up and was given a slightly new position to the ones he has played in throughout 2023-24.
Gray has operated at right-back and in holding midfield, but on Sunday he lined-up in the 10 role behind Georginio Rutter but was used more defensively than when Rutter or Joel Piroe play in that position.
Newsome gave his verdict on Gray’s display and his body language at full-time during his role as co-commentator on BBC Radio Leeds. Here is what the former Leeds player said about Gray:
Jon Newsome verdict on Leeds star Archie Gray’s display
While it is a solid result, it is a game in which Leeds will feel they could have won on another day. But what is important is that Farke’s side looked so much more solid than they have done in recent weeks.
The four losses in six preceding Sunday’s fixture saw Leeds completely open in midfield and having Gray in front of Ilia Gruev and Glen Kamara worked, with Newsome impressed by Gray’s “tireless” performance.
“He is 18, you want to install as much information into him as you can because, again, a really good performance. He drifted in and out of the game, but he was absolutely full of running,” Newsome said.
“He has worked tirelessly for the side. You can see with his body language now, can’t you, he is not happy, something has been said, he is a little bit disjointed, a bit disgruntled about stuff what 18-year-old kid.”
What Daniel Farke did with Archie Gray at full-time
It will have been a bit of a learning experience for Gray on Sunday, a game that was cagey and enveloped by huge amounts of pressure but also the know-how of playing in a new role at senior level for Leeds.
BBC Radio Leeds presenter Jonathan Buchan said that Gray was the man to get some “words of wisdom” from Farke on the pitch immediately after Josh Smith had blown for full-time, the game ending 0-0.
“Immediately after, Farke will pass on some wisdom, this time it’s Archie Gray. They are pointing to an area of the pitch where clearly he wanted Archie to do something that he didn’t necessarily do,” he said.