Leeds United are renowned for their ability to produce talent after talent from the Thorp Arch academy and coaches at Elland Road are confident that in an 18-year-old, they have a ‘natural leader’.
Leeds have a busy weekend with the senior side set to go into the Championship play-offs but the Under-18’s are also in action as they travel to face Manchester City for the FA Youth Cup final at The Etihad.
Rob Etherington has guided his U18 side in the Final after an impressive run that includes a 3-1 win over Liverpool, a penalty shootout against Sheffield United and a 4-3 thriller in the semi-finals against Millwall.
It is the first time that Leeds have reached the final since 1996-97 when a side boasting Alan Smith, Harry Kewell and Jonathan Woodgate won the trophy with a two-legged 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace.
These days it is only the one leg that Leeds will have to play but they come up against the cream of the crop in the form of Man City, who last won the trophy with a 3-2 triumph over Chelsea in 2019-20.
Leading the Leeds side out will be defender Dan Toulson, a player that has played every minute of The FA Youth Cup campaign for The Whites and The Mail report what Leeds coaches think about the 18-year-old.
Here is what the report says Leeds coaches and teammates have noticed about the defender:
Leeds United coaches excited by prospect of ‘leader’ Dan Toulson
Toulson is a real talent and not just because he has already clocked up more than 50 appearances for the U18 side and broken into the second team, playing six times for the U21’s during the 2023-24 season.
But largely because of two things, the first being his versatility in defence or midfield. This term, Toulson has played as a centre-back, a left-back and in holding midfield for the U18’s under manager Etherington.
Toulson has also impressed Leeds coaches who firmly believe they have a ‘natural leader’ on their hands. He conducts himself well and is keen to promote the club’s high-energy style, according to The Mail.
Toulson is showing similar characteristics to Kalvin Phillips
Plenty of youngsters have been promoted from the U18 and U21 sides to the first team over the last decade or two. Kalvin Phillips is the best example, now a Premier League and Champions League winner.
Sam Byram, Alex Mowatt, Lewis Cook, Charlie Taylor and loads more have gone on to have successful careers while Charlie Crew is the latest to be promoted, albeit a signing from Cardiff City prior to Leeds.
But there are similarities between Phillips and Toulson, with Phillips also very versatile and captaining Leeds in similar age groups. Perhaps, Toulson could be the next off the Thorp Arch conveyor belt.