Archie Gray could’ve made his breakthrough at Leeds United even earlier if it wasn’t for injury.
Gray was handed his professional debut as a 17-year-old back in August against Cardiff City, having impressed during an otherwise difficult pre-season for Leeds.
However, Gray had actually been in the first team setup for almost two years before that, first being named on the bench by Marcelo Bielsa at just 15 against Arsenal in December 2021.
Bielsa would often pull Gray out of school just so he could train with the senior side on a regular basis, but injury in Jesse Marsch’s one and only pre-season as manager grinded his momentum to a halt.
Gray was on the end of a poor challenge from John McGinn in a friendly against Aston Villa, and from then on, he suffered with a string of injuries that he did not properly recover from until late in the season.
Gray names Stuart Dallas among his Leeds inspirations
Given his age, and the level of excitement surrounding his potential, last season will have been an unbelievably difficult time for Gray.
As such, Gray will have had to lean on a number of more experienced teammates in order to get him through that period, and to where he is now.
And in an interview alongside Georginio Rutter for Leeds’ YouTube channel, Gray singled out Stuart Dallas as someone who was a massive inspiration during his time on the sidelines.
Dallas was forced to retire last month having been out injured for over two years now, and so Gray will have spent many days in the Thorp Arch treatment room with him.
Gray says he is extremely ‘grateful’ for the amount of time he got to spend with Dallas, while also naming Liam Cooper and Joe Rodon as his other inspirations at the club.
He said: “Stu Dallas, you can just look at the career he has had and obviously I was injured last year so I spent nine months with him and I am grateful for him. Coops as well, being the captain for so long, he’s a club legend, both him and Stu are club legends. Joe as well, he helps me every day.”
Dallas and Liam Cooper to leave a real hole in Leeds dressing room
These comments from Gray are just yet more evidence of the hole that both Dallas and Cooper will leave in the dressing room at Leeds.
With Dallas retiring, Cooper’s final game at the club is set to be at Wembley on Sunday, bringing an end to his 10-year spell at Elland Road.
Though Dallas has not played in two years, and Cooper has taken a backseat in terms of on-field involvement this season, clearly they are who the youngsters look up to.
Irrespective of the outcome against Southampton, Leeds will need to replace that sort of experience in the summer.