Darren Bent believes Leeds United have the ‘next superstar’ in their ranks after watching the play-off semi-final win over Norwich City.
Former Ipswich Town striker Bent had actually backed Norwich to come away with a 2-1 win from Elland Road in the second leg, though he could not have been more wrong.
With a raucous atmosphere behind them, Leeds completely dominated Norwich from start to finish and ran out comfortable 4-0 winners to set up a final with Southampton at Wembley.
Ilia Gruev opened the scoring for Leeds early on with a very clever free-kick, before Joel Piroe and Georginio Rutter ensured a three-goal lead heading into half-time.
Crysencio Summerville rounded off the scoring midway through the second half, which meant all four of Leeds‘ goal-scorers were aged 24 or younger.
Bent says Archie Gray is next ‘superstar’ for Leeds
Having scored four goals, Leeds’ attackers were the men who grabbed the headlines on Thursday night, with Rutter named as Sky Sports’ man of the match.
However, after conceding nine goals in their last three regular season games, Leeds kept back-to-back clean sheets over the two legs against Norwich, which will give the back four confidence.
Archie Gray played as a number 10 at Carrow Road but was moved back to right-back in the return fixture, producing a brilliant performance to shut down Jonathan Rowe.
A moment from Gray in the first half drew particular applause from Farke, while Sheffield Wednesday’s Josh Windass was also left blown away by his display.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Bent labelled Gray as the ‘next superstar’, before then praising Leeds for proving his prediction wrong.
“First of all, the atmosphere looked incredible, like the smoke and everything looked brilliant. They blew them out of the water and came out of the traps so fast that they actually destroyed them in the first 20 minutes.
“When you have got Rutter, Summerville, Gnonto and these guys, options all over the place. Again, fair play to Leeds. It will be interesting to see what they do.
“Obviously Archie Gray is the one they are talking about, aren’t they? He is supposed to be the next superstar. Fair play to Leeds. I thought they would struggle, they didn’t. Fair play.”
Ben Parker urges Gareth Southgate to take Gray to EUROs
Gray is a player who is already on the radar of England manager Gareth Southgate, despite the fact he is still yet to even make his Premier League debut.
And after his performance in the second leg on Thursday, former Leeds defender Ben Parker has actually urged Southgate to take him to the EUROs, all be it tongue in cheek.
He said: “How does he make it look so easy? He looks like he has played 200 games. A special, special talent. Take Archie to the Euros, come on, let’s have it.”